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E.    HOWLETT 


Driving    Lessons 


NEW  YORK 

R.   H.   RUSSELL    &    SON 

1894 


Copyright,  1804,  by 
R.   H.   RUSSELL   &   SON 


Press  of  J.  J.  Little  &  Co. 
Astor  Place,  New  York 


I  DEDICATE  THIS  BOOK 


to  W.  G.  Tiffany 

MY   OLDEST    CLIENT    AND    FRIEND, 

/;/  remembrance  of  pleasant  times  passed 
together  on  a  coach. 


Ed  WIN  HOIVLETT 


TO  MY  PUPILS 


My  pupils  have  often  asked  me  to  write 
a  book  of  instructions  on  tJje  management 
of  four  horses. 

I  am  not  a  practiced  writer;  but  in  order 
to  comply  witJj  titeir  wishes,  I  will  try  to 
explain  here  what  I  have  been  teaching  for 
a  great  many  years. 


If  tbey  will  permit  me  to  commend  tJjis 
volume  to  their  kind  attention,  it  will  he 
the  best  recompense  I  can  ask  for  niy  work 
in  preparing  it. 

E.    HOWLETT. 

Paris,  March,  1892. 


PREFACE 


In  Paris,  London,  and  New  York,  the 
art  of  Coach in.L;-  has  been  remarkably  de- 
veloped. Many  clubs  have  been  formed 
in  order  that  amateurs  of  the  sport  might 
congregate,  and  men  of  the  highest  social 
position  do  not  disdain  driving  the  public 
coaches  which  run  daily. 

If  I  employ  the  word  art  in  speaking  of 
coaching,  it  is  for  the  reason  that  only  by 


lO  DRIVING  LESSONS 

close  attention  to  such  lessons  as  are 
taught  in  this  volume  can  perfection, 
which  is  the  ideal  of  all  art,  be  attained. 

It  is  a  luxurious  pleasure,  perhaps,  to 
display  one  of  these  turnouts,  but  it  is 
surely  an  elegant  pastime.  In  order  to 
practice  this  sport  in  perfection,  you  should 
be  possessed  of  many  qualities  that  can- 
not be  acquired  by  money  alone,  and  one 
cannot  arrive  at  correctness  or  perfection 
unless  possessed  of  much  tact  and  savoir- 
faire.  Once  the  tools  are  organized,  the 
coach  built  according  to  the  best  and 
most  sensible  principles,  and  four  well- 
matched  horses  with  good  action  have 
been  selected;  then  the  owner  must  learn 
how  to  drive  them  properly,  for  it  is  not 
good  form  to  be  driven  on  a  coach  by 
one's  coachman. 

Now  begins  the  art  of  driving,  which 


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PREFACE  I  I 


Howlett  has  brought  to  the  highest  de- 
gree of  perfection,  hi  a  book  entitled 
''Paris  an  'Bois,"  Crafty,  the  well-known 
writer  and  authority  on  sporting  subjects, 
gives  a  sketch  of  Howlett  so  absolutely 
true  that  I  permit  myself  to  quote  it 
here  : 


"  In  noting  the  rapid  development  of  four-in-hand 
'  driving,  I  would  commit  an  unpardonable  over- 
'  sight  and  injustice  if  1  did  not  speak  of  a  man 
'  who  has  done  more  than  anyone  else  for  its  won- 
'  derful  progress.  1  refer  to  Howlett,  the  founder 
'  of  the  dynasty. 

"  The  art  of  driving  four  horses  is  not  the  result  of 
'  reflection.  It  is  not  a  talent  you  can  develop  in 
'  the  retirement  of  your  study  ;  you  must  study  it 
'  in  the  field,  have  the  horses  and  carriage — in  a 
'  word,  all  the  necessary  tools. 

"  All  these  appliances  Howlett  has  offered  to  the 
'  young  student,  as  well  as  his  incomparable  in- 
'  structions,  which  are  given  with  admirable 
'  patience,  marvellous  perseverance  and  politeness, 
'  together  with  imperturbable  composure  and  a 
'  presence  of  mind  always  on  the  alert. 

"  He  has  been  the  instructor  of  the  majority  of 
"  the  skillful  four-in-hand  drivers,  and  there  is  not 


12  DRIVING   LESSONS 

'  one  of  his  pupils  who  is  not  ready  to  attest  that 
'  he  owes  his  knowledge  to  the  untiring  attention 
'  of  the  professor  who  has  given  him  the  benefit 
'  of  his  incomparable  experiences.  This  man,  who 
'  plays  with  a  four-in-hand  as  Paganini  played  on 
'  the  violin,  calmly  regards  all  the  false  notes  made 
'  by  the  neophytes,  whom  he  assists  with  hiscoun- 
'  sels,  never  interfering  unless  he  is  called  upon  for 
'  help.  Should  his  assistance  not  be  called  for,  he 
'  allows  an  accident  to  occur  with  a  resignation 
'  worthy  of  praise  ;  for,  after  all,  his  limbs  are  as 
'  much  in  danger  as  those  of  his  pupils.  But  when 
'  the  mishap  has  occurred,  you  should  see  with 
'  what  activity  he  remedies  it. 

"  He  has  been  known  more  than  once  to  take  off, 
'  pick  up  and  put  to,  by  himself,  all  his  horses 
'  thrown  down  at  once  by  the  lack  of  skill  of  a 
'  pupil. 

"  On  these  occasions  he  is  of  more  value  than  a 
'  detachment  of  grooms.  Without  seeming  hurry 
'  he  touches  at  once  the  proper  strap  to  be  un- 
'  buckled  in  order  to  loosen  the  harness,  stepping 
'  in  the  midst  of  the  legs  of  the  horses  that  are 
'  down  with  a  fearlessness  that  recognizes  no 
'  danger,  he  puts  everything  in  order  and  mounts 
'  to  his  seat  beside  the  culprit  as  quietly  as  if  noth- 
'  ing  had  happened." 

Another  sporting  writer  and  well  - 
known  whip,  the  tlrst  in  France  to 
write    a    book    on    four -horse    driving, 


PREFACE  I  9 


Monsieur  Doiiatien  Levesque,  in  the 
'' Grandes  Guides,"  speaks  of  Professor 
Howlett  as  follows  : 

"  His  ability  in  driving  is  very  great,  and  his  way 
"  of  teaching  so  precise,  so  clear  and  mild,  that 
"  none  of  my  many  professors  have  left  such  agree- 
"  able  impressions  with  me. 

"  In  a  few  lessons,  for  which  he  supplies  the  team, 
"  he  gives  you  precepts  that  you  would  never  dis- 
"  cover  yourself,  even  by  long  practice,  and  what  is 
"  often  missing  in  many  coachmen — incontestable 
"  individual  ability." 

This  is  a  portrait  in  its  truest  light  of 
the  man  whom  all  amateurs  of  four-horse 
driving  are  able  to  appreciate,  as  much 
for  his  talent  as  for  his  character.  I  will 
now  sketch  a  few  lines  of  his  life,  which 
will  show  that  during  his  childhood 
Howlett  studied  and  practiced  the  art 
discussed  by  him  in  this  volume. 

Edwin  Howlett  was  born  in  Paris  on 
the  tlfth  day  of  May,  1835 ;  he  is  one  of 
the  seven  sons  of  John  Howlett,  of  Nor- 


14  DRIVING    LESSONS 

wich,  (Norfolk),  coachman  to  the  Marquis 
of  Hereford. 

From  the  age  of  eleven,  Edwin  Howlett 
was  able  to  look  out  for  himself,  having 
in  a  way  the  intuition  of  his  trade,  being 
skillful,  careful,  and  devoted  to  his  horses. 
At  sixteen  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Princess  Bacciochi ;  he  afterwards  served 
as  second  coachman  with  Monsieur  Alex- 
andre Horvath ;  and  in  i8s2  with  Prince 
Pericles  Gikha,  who  took  him  to  Vienna 
and  gave  him  the  management  of  his 
stable.  Later,  Howlett  was  trusted  by 
the  Prince  to  bring  the  team  back  to 
Paris  by  road.  Leaving  Vienna  on  the 
twenty- seventh  of  October,  1852,  he 
arrived  in  Paris  on  the  sixteenth  of  De- 
cember, without  any  of  the  horses  being 
in  the  least  tired,  and  without  accident 
of  any  kind. 


PREFACE  1 5 

In  1853,  Howlett  was  with  Mr.  Spencer 
Cowper  (who  was  setting  up  his  es- 
tablishment, having  just  married  the 
Countess  d'Orsay,)  as  second  coachman 
under  the  orders  of  his  father,  whom  he 
succeeded  in   i8ss. 

After  nine  years  in  this  confidential 
position,  during  which  time  the  neatness 
of  the  turnouts  was  remarked,  Howlett 
established  himself  in  business;  he  started 
with  ten  horses  and  seven  carriages  at 
15  Rue  Jean-Goujon,  Paris,  where  he  is 
at  the  present  time. 

Only  after  long  and  sustained  effort, 
having  gone  through  many  hard  times 
with  name  and  reputation  unimpeached, 
has  he  attained  to  the  prosperity  and 
notoriety  which  his  establishment  now 
possesses. 

His  five  sons,  worthy  representatives  of 


1 6  DRIVING    LESSONS 

their  lather,  work  with  him,  give  lessons, 
and  travel  about  wherever  they  may  be 
called,  teaching  the  methods  in  which  they 
have  been  instructed  by  their  fother. 

We  all  saw  at  the  ''Concours  Hippi- 
que,"  his  youngest  son,  then  aged  seven 
years,  strapped  to  his  seat  while  driving 
four  horses  with  ability  and  great  cool- 
ness, turning  small  figure  eights  on  the 
show  grounds ;  and  we  can  certify  that 
neither  of  his  daughters  would  be 
in  the  least  troubled  to  manage  a  drag 
in  the  thronged  thoroughfares  of  Paris. 

It  is,  therefore,  rare  good  luck  for  the 
public  to  find  in  this  volume  the  les- 
sons of  the  professor  who  has  taught 
most  of  our  drivers,  among  whom  are 
mentioned  : 

Mesdames, 

M"*-'    de    BuFFiEREs.  —  M'"^-    Barker.  —  M"^    L. 


PREFACE  1 7 

EusTis.  —  M'"*^-  Pedreno.  —  M'""'  Prince.  —  M"*^ 
Mabel    Simpkins.  —  B""^   Zuylen   de  Nyfvelt. 

Messieurs, 

C'^^   d'ALSACE.—  C'^'   Ph.  d'ALSACE. —  O"  d'AMlLLY. 

—  M'^  d'AuDiFFRET-PASQUiER.  —  Arnaud  de  I'Ariege. 

—  Adam.  —  Appleton.  —  Arbuthnot.  —  Puissant 
d'Agimont.  —  C'*=  de  Berthier.  —  Bertin.  —  O.  P. 
H.  Belmont.  —  0*=  de  Barral.  —  Bronson.  —  E. 
D.  Beylard.  —  C''^  Ch.  D.  de  Beauregard.  —  C"' 
Costa  de  Beauregard. — B''"  deCARAYON  La  Tour. — 
Due  Decazes.  —  Louis  Cordonnier.  —  E.  Cordon- 
NiER.  —  Chanu.  —  Cruger.  —  Caner.  —  Dela- 
garde.  —  Desgenetais.  —  W.  B.  Duncan.  —  B"" 
d'EsTE.  —  W.  C.  EusTis.  —  D.  English.  —  Fair- 
man-Rogers.  —  V"'  B.  de  Gironde.  —  O.  Gallice.  — 
M'*  de  GuADALMiNA.  —  B'^'^  de  la  Grange  OTard.  — 
GoocH.  —  Goffin.  —  C'<=  de  Gramont  d'Aster.  — 
Gardener.  —  C'^^Jametel.  —  Foxhall  Keene —  B°" 
Lejeune.  —  GuiUaume,  Joseph,  Louis  and  Lucien 
Lavessiere,  —  Donatien  Levesque.  —  Mayeur.  — 
Meurinne.  —  B°"  de  Neuflize.  —  Due  de  Lorges.  — 
C'^  de  Pourtales.  —  V^^  Pernety.  —  de  Ql'adra.  — 


1 8  DRIVING    LESSONS 

B°"  Edouard  de  Rothschild.  —  Henri  Renard.  — 
John  SiMPKiNs.  —  Paul  Schneider,  —  H*^^*^  M.  Sandys 

—  Simpson.  —  Screpel.  —  J.  Stern.  —  Nathaniel, 
E.-V.-R.,  John  and  Bayard  Thayer.  —  W.  G. 
Tiffany.  —  Thorndyke.  —  B.-R.  Winthrop.  — 
W.-S.  Webb.  —  O^  H.  d'YANviLLE.  —  P.  Yturbe. 

—  B""  ZuYLEN  de  Nyevelt.  —  Prince  Zurlo. 

1  could  continue  this  already  long  list 
indefinitely,  for  Howlett  gives  twelve 
hundred  four-in-hand  lessons  a  year. 

Oe   de    CLERMONT-GALLERANDE. 


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Preliminary  Advice 


It  is  a  mistake  to  say  that  one  has  bad  hands. 
The  hand  being  an  instrument  directed  by  the  will, 
ought  to  execute  instantly  what  the  mind  orders; 
it  may  be  more  or-  less  clumsily  done,  according 
to  the  intelligence  and  aptitude  of  the  mind  that 
directs  it. 

When  you  drive  four  horses  through  large 
towns,  you  must  count  only  on  yourself,  for  it  is 
seldom  you  are  helped  by  the  other  drivers;  on 
the  contrary,  they  will  often  get  in  your  way. 

Since  coaching  has  so  rapidly  developed  in 
France  and  America,  and  above  all  in  Paris,  thanks 
to   the   proprietor   of   the   New    York   Herald  and 


22  DRIVING    LESSONS 

several  other  coaching  men,  all  these  gentlemen 
agree  in  saying  that  it  is  due  to  my  teaching  that 
they  are  devotees  of  the  sport. 

All  my  pupils  in  their  first  ten  lessons  com- 
plete the  course  which  embraces  the  whole  of 
my  teaching;  1  do  not  mean  to  say  that  in 
that  time  they  become  perfect  whips,  but  they 
learn  enough  to  surmount  serious  difficulties. 

The  first  lesson  is  usually  a  mystification  to 
the  pupil;  he  does  not  know  which  rein  to  touch, 
and  generally  touches  the  wrong  one. 

Many  coachmen  have  no  idea  of  the  sensibility 
of  a  horse's  mouth,  pulling  at  it  as  though  it  were 
a  windlass.  Some  say:  "I  am  very  strong;  lean 
drive  for  two  hours.  Look  at  my  arms ;  I  exercise 
with  dumb-bells,"  etc.,  etc.  It  is  often  these  people 
who  are  used  up  first;  for  it  is  not  so  much  force 
and  power  that  you  want  as  the  knack  of  using  it. 
I  will  mention,  as  an  example,  an  amateur  who  said 
to  me:  "When  1  use  my  strength,  1  can  pull  my 
four  horses  back  on  their  hocks."  One  day,  when 
he   should   have  shown   his   strength,   he   was   so 


PRELIMINARY    ADVICE  2^ 

used  up  that  if  I  had  not  been  there  and  taken 
the  reins  we  would  have  gone  straight  into  the 
river.  I  own  that  one  of  the  horses  pulled,  but 
this    Hercules   believed    too    much    in    himself. 

Another  man  who  owns  a  coach  and  is  well 
known  for  his  fine  turnouts,  in  short  a  great  ama- 
teur, came  to  me  for  one  lesson  to  improve  his  driv- 
ing. In  the  lesson  hour  he  saw  so  much  new  to 
him  that  as  he  dismounted  he  said  to  me:  "I 
thought  that  1  knew  all.  and  1  now  see  that  1  know 
nothing."  After  that  lesson  he  became  one  of  my 
best  pupils. 

To  drive,  you  must  know  how  to  bit  your 
horses  well.  Nearly  everyone  has  a  way  of  his 
own :  but  1  must  say  here  that  it  is  not  the  zvay 
only;  each  horse  requires  a  different  mouthpiece, 
that  which  is  good  with  one  often  being  bad  with 
another,  it  is  indispensable  that  you  should  use  the 
bit  best  suited  to  your  horse,  so  you  must  find 
which  of  many  does  suit  him,  and  then  tit  it  to  him. 
One  dav  one  of  mv  clients,  to  whom  I  had  lent  a 
very  good  bit  that  just  fitted  his  pulling  horse,  came 


24 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


to  tell  me  that  the  bit  did  not  prevent  the  horse 
from  nearly  pulling  his  arms  off.  1  saw  that  it  was 
not  the  fault  of  the  bit,  but  of  the  way  it  was  ad- 
justed. 1  fitted  and  placed  it  where  it  ought  to  be, 
and  five  minutes  after  the  owner  said:  "I  do  not 
recognize  my  horse,  he  is  so  light  in  hand." 

I  give  here  the  shape  of  this  ex- 
cellent bit,  and  the  way  of  using  it. 

It  is  an  ordinary  straight  mouth- 
piece  with   a   port   four  and   a  half 
inches  high,  which  can  be  put  to  any 
kind  of  cheek-piece. 

The  majority  of  old  horses  you  buy,  having 
generally  been  driven  by  bad  coachmen,  have  their 
lower  jaw  absolutely  insensible.  To  have  them 
light  in  hand,  it  is  necessary  to  find  a  spot  where 
the  surface  is,  as  we  say  in  France,  virginal;  my 
bit   precisely   supplies   this   want. 

The  reins  being  placed  under  the  centre  of  the 
mouthpiece,  at  the  moment  when  they  begin  their 
pulling,  the  high  port  sways  with  the  centre  of  the 
mouthpiece  and  touches  the  horse's  palate;  that  is 


PRELIMINARY    ADVICE  25 

on  the  condition  that  the  curb  chain  is  loose  enough 
for  it  to  do  so,  and  that  the  noseband  is  sufficiently 
tight  to  prevent  the  horse  from  opening  his  mouth; 
otherwise  he  avoids  the  contact  of  the  port.  As 
you  well  know,  the  further  the  reins  are  from  the 
centre,  the  more  considerable  is  the  strength  of 
sway  of  the  high  port.  In  the  chapter  on  harness, 
I  will  explain  how  a  noseband  ought  to  be  made  in 
order  to  shut  a  horse's  mouth. 

If,  while  out  driving,  a  horse  pulls  very  badly 
and  you  have  no  high  port  with  vou,  here  is  an 
excellent  way  to  stop  him.  Take  off  the  curb  on 
one  side  and  pass  the  end  round  the  noseband  (the 
curb  untwisted),  and  hook  it  up  rather  tight,  so  that 
the  curb  finds  a  new  bearing;  it  prevents  the  bit 
from  playing  so  easily  and  makes  the  horse  lighter 
in  hand. 

Men  of  all  nationalities  have  told  me  that  mv 
horses  are  very  agreeable  to  drive:  it  is  solely  be- 
cause they  are  well  bitted.  But  1  often  have  horses 
with  nasty  mouths,  hard  pullers,  but  1  fit  them  so 
that  women  can  and  do  drive  them. 


26  DRIVING   LESSONS 

A  well-known  lord  once  said  to  me:  "I  often 
hire  four  or  five  teams  to  run  out  to  the  races  when 
at  home,  but  1  have  never  had  such  good  ones  as 
yours,  or  so  well  bitted."  That  was  a  long  time 
ago,  but  it  is  satisfactory  for  me  to  know  that  I  can 
please  Englishmen,  although  1  live  in  Paris. 

In  driving  four  horses,  the  four  reins  ought  to  be 
placed  in  the  left  hand,  and  rest  there,  firmly  held. 

It  is  indispensable  that  the  reins  should  be  well 
adjusted,  that  is,  they  must  be  equally  drawn  up.  I 
call  the  left  hand  the  pivot.  You  must  put  order  in 
all  your  commands,  and  give  time  to  your  horses  to 
execute  them ;  you  must  not  hold  your  reins  too 
tight,  for  if  you  do  it  will  provoke  a  stop  at  the  first 
command. 

Many  people  believe  that  the  horses  ought  to 
obey  them  simply  because  they  have  in  their  minds 
what  they  want  the  animals  to  do,  and  they  are 
•quite  astonished  that  the  poor  horses  do  not  comply. 

If  you  want  to  make  the  letter  L  ^^^  only 
make  the  perpendicular  stroke,  it  will  be  |  and  not 
L     It  is  the  same  when  you  only  order  your  horses 


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PRELIMINARY    ADVICE  27 

to  do  half  what  you  wish  of  them — it  is  impossible 
that  thev  can  execute  the  whole. 

Some  say  that  my  horses  run  on  by  themselves; 
let  anyone  try  to  drive  them  and  he  will  soon 
change  his  opinion.  1  have  never  yet  found  horses, 
even  those  the  best  trained,  that  could  turn  a  figure 
QQ  bv  themselves. 

The  reins  always  slipping  out  of  the  hands 
proves  that  the  fingers  are  not  closed  on  them  suf- 
ficiently, and  that  the  thumb  is  often  closed  in  the 
hand  with  the  reins. 

Suppose  a  person  is  drowning  and  you  throw 
him  a  rope :  he  will  take  hold  of  it  instinctively  with 
a  full  hand,  the  thumb  goes  over  the  forefinger, 
thus  completing  the  closed  hand,  and  is  its  padlock. 
In  all  driving,  the  position  of  the  fingers  should  be 
the  same  as  that  of  the  drowning  person's  on  the 
rope. 

It  is  the  same  for  driving  one  or  two  horses; 
very  few  amateur  or  professional  drivers  know 
where  the  reins  ought  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  to 
give  them  the  most  power  with  the  least  effort;   for 


28  DRIVING   LESSONS 

the  left  hand,  it  is  on  the  joint  of  the  forefinger 
nearest  the  hand  ;  for  the  right,  under  the  joint 
nearest  the   palm. 

For  four  horses,  the  two  fingers  that  hold  the 
reins  are  the  little  finger  and  the  fourth  or  ring 
finger  of  the  left  hand;  therefore  these  two  fingers 
ought   always   to   be   shut. 

Those  who  know,  or  think  they  know,  how 
to  drive,  will  perhaps  think  that  1  have  used  many 
words  to  say  very  little  ;  but  1  must  answer  that 
I  do  not  write  for  those  who  know,  but  for  those 
who  want  to  learn  or  to  become  more  skillful. 

When  I  drive,  1  like  to  taste  with  my  hand 
what  I  am  doing.  Many  persons  do  not  know 
what  pleasure  there  is  in  touching  or  feeling  a 
horse's  mouth;  they  think  that  when  they  jerk  the 
reins  to  the  right  or  the  left  that  the  horse  ought 
to  turn.  Some  do  still  worse,  and  jerk  the  rein 
violently,  which  is  sufficient  to  tear  the  skin  from 
the  lower  jaw;  they  could  not  stand  one  hundredth 
part  of  such  a  pull  on  their  own  mouths.  By  this 
brutal   movement   they   tear   the   flesh   and    make 


PRELIMINARY    ADVICE  2g 

wounds  which  bring  on  suppuration.  These 
wounds  are  a  long  time  in  getting  well,  and, 
when  the  bit  comes  in  contact  with  them. 
are  very  painful.  All  this  happens  when  you 
become  angry  because  the  horse  does  not  under- 
stand your  idea.  You  blame  the  horse,  but  it 
is  you  who  are  in  the  wiong.  How  many 
times,  too,  when  the  horse  does  not  do  as 
well  as  he  might,  comes  the  cut  of  the  whip, 
given  badly  and  not  at  the  right  time.  1  have 
very  often  said  that  it  is  the  driver  who  ought 
to  have  the  thrashing — not  the  horse.  1  have 
never  liked  to  whip  my  horses,  and  by  kind 
treatment  1  have  obtained  what  1  wanted  of 
them  better  than  by  being  brutal.  From  my 
point  of  view,  horses  need  the  whip  sometimes 
when  being  driven  by  awkward  places;  then  1 
hit  hard  once  or  twice,  and  in  these  cases 
generally  leave  a  wale. 

Many  believe  that  a  horse's  hide  cannot  be 
cut  with  a  four-horse  whip;  but  1  have  made 
a   cut,  about   three   inches  long,  through  the  skin 


30  DRIVING    LESSONS 

of  a  leader's  flank,  and  the  middle  inch  went 
into  the  flesh.  Another  time,  1  was  driving 
with  a  pupil's  horses;  the  off  leader  would  not 
turn  to  the  left,  and  1  gave  him  one  stroke  with 
the  whip  when  all  the  team  excepting  him  were 
coming  to  the  left.  My  stroke  carried  him  into 
his   place. 

At  another  time  a  well-known  amateur  of  my 
acquaintance  had,  with  me,  a  few  quite  lively 
moments  at  the  St.  Dominique  fountain.  After 
having  tried  unsuccessfully  to  turn  the  corners,  in 
consequence  of  the  off  leader  being  very  stubborn, 
1  tried  an  experiment.  I  laid  a  stroke  on  the 
inside  of  his  neck,  from  his  ear  along  his  back 
to   his   tail  ;    1    waled    him,   but   we   got   through. 

At  the  last  "  Concours  Hippique,"  1  had  a  near 
leader  who  refused  to  go  into  the  gateway  of 
the  Champs  Elysees,  throwing  himself  to  the 
left.  1  gave  him  two  strokes  on  the  near  side 
and  got  through  the  first  gate;  but  when  1  had 
to  stop  to  have  the  second  doorway  opened, 
the   same  horse,  frightened  by  the  dark   passage. 


PRELIMINARY    ADVICE  }l 

attempted  to  mount  the  right  staircase.  Three  or 
four  hundred  people  were  around  the  carriage, 
and  a  serious  accident  might  have  occurred.  I 
again  had  recourse  to  my  whip  and  laid  a  stroke 
on  the  inside  of  my  near  leader,  which  carried 
us  into  the  middle  of  the  ring  of  the  "  Concours 
Hippique." 

The  whip  is  indispensable,  and  those  who 
wish  to  learn  to  drive  without  it  are  very 
wrong ;  for  later,  when  they  wish  to  begin  to 
carry  it,  they  find  it  so  much  in  the  way  that 
they  put  it  back  in  the  socket.  1  oblige  my 
pupils  to  carry  the  whip  from  the  first,  and 
compel  them  to  keep  it  ;  1  have  no  socket  in 
my   carriage. 

In  the  following  chapter,  1  will  endeavor  to 
explain  many  of  the  useful  strokes  which  may 
be  given  with  the  whip,  showing  how  and  when 
they  should  be  applied ;  for  there  is  not  only 
a  time  but  a  place  for  each  stroke,  and  the 
whip  when  used  must  be  used  intelligently  in 
order  to    obtain    desired    result  from   your  horses. 


}2  DRIVING    LESSONS 

It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  add  that  the 
unintelligent  use  of  the  whip  is  not  only  cruel, 
but  worse  than  useless,  and  has  been  the  cause 
of  many  an  accident. 


The  Four- Horse  Whip 


AND   THE   WAY  TO    USE   IT 


I    will    show    the    way    to     lay     on    a    few 
strokes;    but   how   long   should    the   whip   be? 
From  the  bottom   of  the   ferrule   to  the   knot 

of    the 


leather 
thong,  five  feet  three  inches;  and  from  that  knot 
to  the  end  of  the  thong  point,  twelve  feet  six 
inches.  1  do  not  like  the  whipcord  lashes,  neither 
silk  ones;  because  they  are  too  light  and  stick 
when  they  are  wet.  1  prefer  the  leather  point 
which    is   sold   in    England. 

When    not   in    use,    always    keep   your  whip 
hung  on    a   circle   about   five   inches   in   diameter. 


34 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


Never  lengthen  the  curves  of  the  thong,  as  there  is 
whalebone  in  the  top,  and  it  will  bend  or  break 
at  the  neck  where  the  thong  is  joined  to  the 
stick;  if  this  is  done,  you  lose  the  good  fall  of 
the  whip  and  cannot  hit  a  horse  well  with  it. 
1  prefer  a  whip  rather  heavy  than  one  too  light, 
because  you  can  touch  a  horse  lightly  with  a 
heavy  one,  while  it  is  impossible  to  strike  hard 
with  a  light  one.  A  whip  should  be  a  tool  and 
not   a    plaything. 

You  hold  your  whip  about  three  parts  up 
the  leather  handle,  leaving  the  second  ferrule 
just  above  your  right  hand,  taking  the  point  end 
of  your  thong  in  the  left.  You  then  deposit  the 
end  of  the  thong  in  your,  right  hand,  letting  from 
six  inches  to  a  foot  hang  below  your  hand.  Now 
comes  the  time  to  throw  the  double  thong,  or 
catch    it   round   the  stick   in   the   proper   way. 

1  find  my  way  the  easiest,  for  eight  times 
out   of  ten  you   get  it   right. 

Following  my  method,  all  my  pupils  learn 
it   in   five   minutes,    while    many   drivers    do    not 


THE   FOUR-HORSE    WHIP 


35 


know  how  after  ten  years  of  practice.  All  four- 
horse  drivers  ought,  when  they  drive,  to  have 
their  thong  round  the  stick,  as  I  will 
explain:  Holding  your  whip  as  I 
have  said,  place  it  nearly  horizon- 
tally across  the  body,  your  right 
hand  level  with  the  pit  of  the 
stomach,  at  about  four  inches  from 
the  body;  we  will  call  this  position 
number  one.  You  carry  the  stick 
without  swinging,  so  as  to  keep 
the  thong  hanging  under  it,  to  about  the  third 
of  a  circle  to  the  right,  lifting 
your  arm  all  through  the  move- 
ment —  position  number  two. 
Often  you  are  a  bit  too  high; 
if  so,  lower  the  top  of  the 
whip  from  eight  to  twelve 
I  inches.     It  all   depends    how  the 

1         '^''^^'^"top   curve    of  the  whip   is.     (See 
-^-=s:L2fe  cuts.)      The     next     two     move- 

ments   I    am    going    to    explain     must    be    done 


36 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


without  a  stop,  and  are  really  only  one.  You 
drop  your  whip  quickly,  straight  down  about 
three  feet,  which  brings  the  stick  nearly  hori- 
zontal; at  that  instant  you  strike  the  thong  as 
it  hangs  on  the  right,  carrying  it  towards  the 
left  until  you  stop  at  position 
one.  This  is  position  three,  or 
move  three.  The  whip  may  be 
a  bit  low,  but  you  can  raise 
it  to  an  oblique  position,  point- 
ing a  bit  away  from  you,  and 
you  will  have  a  whip  nicely 
carried.  If  well  thrown,  the 
double  thong  ought  to  be  about  ^*^s§£ 
three  feet  long;  the  exact  length  depending  some- 
what upon  the  length  of  the  thong.  To  be 
properly  caught,  the  double  thong  ought  to  be 
on   the   threads   of  the   mounting. 

When  you  have  thrown  the  thong  two  or 
three  hundred  times  at  different  intervals,  as  1 
have  said,  the  wrist  becomes  more  pliable, 
which   enables   you   to   obtain    the    double    thong 


THE    FOUR-HORSE    WHIP  )'] 

passing     from     position     one     to     position     two. 

It  is  a  rule  not  to  leave  the  thrown  thong 
twisted  in  the  two  ways.  Once  the  double 
thong  is  made,  you  take  hold  of  it  with  the  left 
hand  where  the  twists  change:  you  pull  at  the 
part  that  is  in  vour  right  hand,  which  comes  out; 
then  you  put  it  back  in  the  right.  In  this  way 
it  is  quite  correct;  the  thong  being  curled  round 
the  stick  in  one  way,  facilitates  its  unfurling  when 
you  want  it  for  your  leaders. 

Now  that  you  have  a  good  double  thong, 
you  can  touch  either  of  your  wheelers.  For  the 
near  side  you  have  only  to  throw  your  double 
thong  on  his  left  shoulder;  for  the  off  horse, 
start  from  position  one,  make  half  a  circle  to  the 
right  and  let  all  the  thong  fall  on  his  right 
shoulder.  The  inside  shoulders  can  be  touched 
by  the  same  movements.  Take  great  care  never 
to  strike  with  the  bow  of  the  thong,  or  with 
the  stick,  on  the  ferrets  of  pads  or  collar;  for  in 
that  way  you  may  break  your  stick. 

To  touch  up  your  off  leader  you   pass   your 


38  DRIVING   LESSONS 

whip  from  left  to  right,  and  then  untwist.  As 
you  get  to  the  last  twist,  open  your  fingers  and 
the  thong  point  will  fly  out.  You  then  circle  the 
thong  backward  in  the  opposite  direction  to  that 
in  which  the  wheels  are  turning;  as  you  come 
forward,  come  quickly  and  stop  short,  with  the 
bow  at  the  level  of  the  wheeler's  pad,  and  about 
two  or  two-and-a-half  feet  away  from  it.  The 
thong,  carried  forward  with  the  force  of  the  stroke, 
continues  its  movement  and  strikes  the  leader  on 
the  legs,  under  the  bars. 

Always  direct  your  strokes  further  than  you 
mean  to  go,  for  it  is  impossible  to  go  too  far. 

When  the  whip  has  touched  the  horse,  if 
you  want  to  bring  the  thong  back,  carry  it  away 
a  bit  from  your  horses  and  place  the  stick  across 
your  left  arm,  giving  time  for  the  thong  to  fall 
first.  Never  be  in  a  hurry  to  pick  it  up,  nor  to 
make  use  of  it. 

For  your  near  leader  you  untwist  or  unfurl 
your  whip  on  the  right  side,  as  for  the  off  horse, 
but,  as  the  point  flies  out,  carry  your  thong  over 


n 


cu 
bfj 


00 


P 


nt 


c 


=3 
C3 


o 


brj 


THE    FOUR-HORSE    WHIP  39 

all  your  horses  so  that  it  falls  on  the  left  side  of 
the  box  seat;  then  turn  your  thong  backwards  in 
a  large  circle,  parallel  with  the  wheels,  and  as  you 
are  coming  forward,  come  a  bit  sharply  and  stop 
short;  and  when  the  bow  of  the  whip  is  level 
with  the  pad  of  your  near  wheeler,  give  time  to 
vour  thong  to  touch  vour  horse  on  the  hind  leg 
under  the  bars.  This  time  the  bow  of  the  whip 
will  be  only  about  a  foot  from  the  pad.  and  at 
its  level. 

To  bring  the  whip  back  to  position  one, 
throw  it  out  strongly  enough  to  pass  above  all 
the  horses'  heads,  carrying  the  point,  say  twelve 
feet  above  the  leaders'  heads;  keep  it  going  round 
to  the  right  so  until  nearly  to  you;  then  lay  the 
stick  across  your  arm,  giving  time  for  the  thong 
to  get  there  first,  as  in  position  one.  Remember, 
in  this  move,  that  once  started  you  must  not 
stop,  for  you  would  cause  a  deviation  of  your 
thong,  and  it  would  not  reach  your  arm. 

If  you  wish  to  strike  your  near  leader,  re- 
member that  in   this  back   circle   with  your  whip 


40  DRIVING   LESSONS 

the  thong  must  turn  on  its  axle  like  a  wheel  on 
the  axle-tree.  Make  the  circle  with  your  whip 
well  in  front  of  your  neighbor,  in  order  to  keep 
from  hitting  him  in  the  face.  Never  crack  your 
whip  in  bringing  it  from  the  back;  give  it  time 
to  turn  around  and  it  will  not  crack. 

Two  strokes  can  be  combined  for  the  off 
and  near  leaders.  You  touch  your  off  leader  as 
aforesaid,  and,  when  the  stroke  is  delivered, 
bring  your  thong  strongly  enough  to  keep  it 
extended  while  it  circles  above  the  coach  high 
enough  not  to  touch  the  people  on  top,  and 
finish  with  the  bow  of  your  thong  one  foot  from, 
and  level  with,  the  near  wheeler's  pad. 

I  seldom  strike  a  horse  twice  in  the  same 
place,  for  that  is  almost  asking  him  to  kick. 

When  my  whip  is  unfurled  and  open  (posi- 
tion one),  and  my  thong  is  hanging  extended  on 
the  left  side,  I  make  a  big  circle  forward  in  the 
direction  the  wheels  are  turning,  and  as  that 
circle  is  finishing,  I  bring  my  arm  to  the  right, 
and   the   lash    or   point    strikes   the   off  leader   on 


THE   FOUR-HORSE   WHIP  4 1 

the  neck,  or  between  the  pad  and  collar,  inside; 
without  stopping,  I  bring  back  the  thong,  circling 
it  backwards,  and  finish  with  a  throw  forward, 
as  I  have  said,  either  under  the  bars,  or,  if  a 
.broadside  stroke  is  desired,  I  finish  a  bit  higher 
in  the  flank. 

In  these  strokes  1  have  seen  the  thong  run 
around  the  hind  leg  of  one  of  the  leaders,  but 
that  fault  will  soon  be  remedied  by  practice. 

For  the  double  stroke  to  your  near  leader, 
untwist  your  whip  on  the  right,  and  as  you  drop 
the  thong  bring  your  hand  across  to  the  left, 
aiming  for  his  neck  or  inside  shoulder;  the  cut 
delivered,  bring  your  whip  backwards  on  the 
left  side  of  the  carriage,  make  a  circle  backwards 
without  stopping,  and  stop  as  before  at  the  level 
of  the  near  wheeler's  pad;  the  lash  or  point  of 
the  whip  continues  running  its  course  with  the 
impulse  given,  and  will  touch  his  legs  under  the 
bars;  be  sure  to  bring  back  the  thong  as  soon 
as  the  stroke  is  delivered,  and  throw  your  double 
thong. 


42  DRIVING   LESSONS 

When  the  weather  is  wet  and  the  road  muddy, 
I  do  not  make  use  of  the  stroke  under  the  bars, 
because  the  thong  becomes  wet  and  dirty,  and 
then  my  coat,  gloves  and  reins  are  soiled  by  it. 

For  giving  a  stroke  to  your  near  leader  under 
the  bars,  passing  between  the  off  wheeler's  chest 
and  off  leader's  thighs,  place  your  whip  on  the 
right  side,  thong  unfurled  at  forty-five  degrees 
(never  letting  the  thong  drag  on  the  ground), 
about  the  middle  between  the  pole-head  and  the 
hub  of  the  off  side  wheel. 

^■...\  Make  with  your  thong  on  that 

:,/    \   angle  a  circle  to  the  right,  and  bring 

'I      your  whip    smartly  back   towards 

your  wheeler  as  if  you  were  going  to  strike  him 
with  the  stick  on  the  shoulder,  but  stop  short 
when  the  bow  is  three  feet  from  the  shoulder 
point;  the  thong,  through  its  momentum,  continues 
the  movement,  runs  between  the  chest  of  your 
off  wheeler  and  the  off  leader's  hocks,  under  the 
bars,  and  perhaps  twists  around  the  near  leader's 
off  leg. 


THE    FOUR-HORSE    WHIP  43 

This  Stroke  is  indispensable  when  an  obstacle 
of  any  sort  prevents  your  striking  the  near  leader 
on  the  left  side. 

You  can  give  the  same  stroke  to  the  off  leader, 
passing  between  the  near  wheeler's  chest  and  the 
hocks  of  the  near  leader;  this  stroke  is  rather  more 
difficult  and  requires  much  practice. 

An  excellent  exercise,  in  order  to  learn  how 
to  give  a  vigorous  cut  of  the  whip  or  a  silent 
snap  to  the  leaders  just  above  their  ears,  is  the 
following: 

imagine  you  have  in  front  of  you  at  the  level 
of  your  chin  a  figure  eight  laying 
horizontally.  Follow  the  outlines  ^^^ 
with  the  hand,  wrist,  elbow,  arm,  shoulder,  all 
working.  The  thong,  well  extended,  will  describe 
in  the  air  an  enormous  eight.  Make  with  your 
wrist  a  light  stop,  each  time  you  come  to  the  in- 
tersection of  the  two  circles,  the  thong  then  runs 
out  in  front  of  you  as  if  you  were  really  striking, 
and  you  hear  a  low  snap,  if  you  make  your  stop 
right  and   wait  for  the  snap.      Remember  not  to 


44  DRIVING   LESSONS 

Stop  the  movement  as  the  snap  is  delivered,  but 
keep  the  thong  going. 

To  hit  a  horse  hard  without  a  noise,  you  must 
begin  slowly,  and  gradually  increase  the  pace  up  to 
the  sharp,  sudden  stop  of  the  stick;  the  greater 
you  have  made  the  pace  at  the  time  you  stop,  the 
harder  the  thong  hits. 

If  sometimes  you  want  to  strike  your  leader 
inside,  send  out  your  thong  straight  between  your 
wheelers'  heads,  aiming  for  either  one  or  the  other, 
and  bring  back  your  thong  gently  to  prevent  its 
running  around  the  wheelers'  couplings,  then  throw 
it  out  to  the  right  so  that  it  shall  not  be  trampled 
upon,  catch  it  on  your  arm,  and  double  the  thong 
at  your  ease.  Always  carry  your  whip  high  and 
at  right  angles  to  your  body,  so  that  the  thong 
will  not  catch  in  the  wheel  or  get  dirty. 

For  the  thong  to  be  easily  thrown,  it  must  be 
kept  in  good  condition  by  wiping  it  with  a  soapy 
sponge,  which  makes  it  soft  and  mellow;  now  and 
then  it  may  be  greased,  especially  for  a  wet  day's 
work. 


THE    FOUR-HORSE   WHIP 


45 


The  Reins 


Always  pay  attention  to  your  reins;  for  if 
you  be  a  little  embarrassed  with  the  whip  and 
have  trouble  to  get  your  thong  in  its  place, 
the  horses,  not  feeling  themselves  driven,  will 
go  where  they  like,  which  is  sometimes  un- 
pleasant. 

All  new  reins  are  stiff,  hard  and  disagree- 
able, but  in  working  they  acquire  the  softness 
which  is  necessary  in  order  for  them  to  be 
agreeable   in   use. 

The  length  of  the  couplings  for  the  coach 
wheel  reins  from  the  ends  of  the  buckles,  should  be 
seven  feet  four  inches.     If  you  have  them  longer, 


THE    REINS  47 

the  buckles  of  the  couplings  come  into  vour 
hands  when  you  want  to  stop,  or  in  using 
opposition.  For  the  reins  of  a  break,  these 
couplings   can   be   eight   feet   ten    inches. 

You  should  have  the  reins  made  to  suit 
the  size  of  your  hand.  One  inch  broad  is 
generally  convenient  for  everybody  ;  but  some 
ladies  like  them  less  than  an  inch,  and  some 
men  like  them  an  inch  and  an  eighth,  or  wider. 
Do  not  have  them  too  small,  because  they  slip 
through  the  fingers.  You  can  hold  on  a  rope 
more  firmly   than   to    a   piece   of  string. 

It  is  necessary  to  have  on  your  leaders' 
reins,  on  the  coupling  in  front  of  the  coupling 
buckle,  a  crossbar  stop  similar  to  the  stops 
for  a  ring-martingale  on  a  saddle  bridle  ;  but 
with  a  piece  of  whalebone  to  keep  it  stiff, 
sewn  between  the  two  leather  pieces,  so  as  to 
prevent  the  coupling  from  running  through  the 
pad   terrets. 

While  this  buckle  runs  through  your  terret 
easily  passing  to  the  horse's  head,  it  often  hooks 


48  DRIVING   LESSONS 

itself  on  as  it  comes  back,  and  in  that  case  a 
serious  accident  might  be  the  result,  for  the  reason 
that  the  buckle,  when  caught,  prevents  any  com- 
munication with  the  leaders'  mouths  on  the  side 
on  which  it  is  hooked  ;  being  held  only  on  one 
side,  the  leaders  run  round  that  way,  and  naturally 
keep  running  round.  If  you  are  in  a  wide 
street,  or  in  a  big  square,  or  if  you  are  on  a 
road,  they  go  on  against  your  will  into  a  ditch 
or  over  a  precipice.  The  best  stop  is  a  leather 
one  with  rounded  corners,  as  they  are  apt  to 
strike  the  leaders  when  trotting,  and  the  brass 
stops   are   heavier   and   hit   harder. 

Nearly  all  English  drivers  start  their  horses 
too  much  by  their  mouths  rather  than  their 
collars,  which  often  causes  a  fussy  start,  if  not 
to  the  degree  of  jibbing,  especially  if  the  horses 
are  bitted  sharp.  1  generally  bit  sharp,  and  yet 
all  my  pupils,  even  beginners,  start  easily  as 
long  as  they   give   rein   enough. 

Many   amateurs   in    Paris   drive    one    or    a    pair 
of    horses   with    four    reins;    but    they   must    not 


be 


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THE   REINS  49 

think  that  it  prepares  them  to  drive  four  horses. 
On  the  contrary,  I  have  noticed  that  these  very 
amateurs  have  the  most  difficulty  in  getting  at 
the  right  method,  being  in  the  habit  of  letting 
the  reins  run  through  their  fingers  to  have  them 
alternately  tight  or  loose  in  order  to  be  able, 
as  they   call   it,   to  play  with  the   horse's   mouth. 

The  coachman  who  drives  one  horse  with 
four  reins  believes  he  is  above  the  average,  and 
whether  his  horse  wants  four  reins  or  not  he 
puts  them  on.  Very  often  not  one  of  the  reins 
is  in  touch  with  the  horse's  mouth.  It  would 
be  very  amusing  to  see  one  of  these  coachmen 
drive  four  horses  with  eight  reins.  If  you  want 
to  use  two  sets  of  reins,  the  safety  reins  should 
be  buckled  in  the  lower  bar  of  the  bit  and 
the  others  in  the  check;  this  is  the  best 
way. 

The  reins  ought  always  to  be  of  the  same 
width,  for  although  it  is  customary  to  make 
safety  reins  narrower  than  other  driving  reins, 
it    is   nevertheless   wrong,   for   it   is   impossible   to 


^O  DRIVING   LESSONS 

hold  or  grasp  them  firmly;  consequently  they 
always  slip  out  of  your  hand.  For  four-horse 
reins  the  same  rule  applies — they  should  always 
be  exactly  equal  in  width.  Never  have  your 
hand-pieces  stitched,  for  they  do  not  play  as 
well   as  the   unstitched   leather. 

While  giving  a  lesson  one  day,  I  met,  about 
three-quarters  of  the  way  up  the  Champs- 
Elysees,  a  team  going  toward  the  Arc-de- 
Triomphe ;  just  before  reaching  the  Rue  Bel- 
Respiro,  all  the  horses  started  jibbing.  The 
people  on  the  coach  tried  in  vain  to  start 
them  ;  finally,  they  sent  down  for  me.  As  1 
reached  them,  the  team  was  standing  across  the 
avenue.  Having  no  room  to  turn  around  and 
come  down  the  hill,  1  was  obliged  to  go  up. 
1  looked  at  all  the  horses,  knowing  none  of 
them,  and,  after  picking  up  the  reins,  1  politely 
asked  them  to  move  on  ;  they  responded  one 
after  another,  two  of  them  running  back  when 
they  felt  the  collar  pull  ;  but  I  was  so  polite 
that   they   finally   all    started    away   together,    and 


THE    REINS  51 

a  little  while  after  1  could  stop  and  go  on  with 
them  as  1  pleased.  1  suppose  that  1  must  have 
appealed   to  their  better  judgment. 

It  is  often  disagreeable  to  drive  four  horses 
belonging  to  some  one  who  tells  you  the 
opposite  of  the  truth,  not  wittingly,  but  because 
he   knows   no   better. 

I  have  often  contradicted  a  beginner  by  telling 
him  his  four  horses  only  weighed  tivo  ounces 
in  my  hands,  when  he  had  found  them  nearly 
two  tons;  but  some  time  after,  when  he  knew 
a  bit  more,  he  said,  showing  me  the  reins: 
"Mr.    Howlett,    one  ounce  and  a  half." 

One  man,  coming  from  the  other  side  of  the 
ocean,  found  the  refuges,  which  they  were  just 
putting  up  in  the  Champs-Elysees,  very  tire- 
some, and  always  in  the  way  of  his  leaders. 
So  1  promised  that  I  would  see  to  it  and  have 
them  taken  away  ;  but  after  a  few  lessons  my 
pupil  asked  me  to  withdraw  the  complaint:  the 
refuges  were   no   longer   in    his   way. 

How   often    am    I   told,    "  I    can   manage   any 


52  DRIVING    LESSONS 


sort  of  horses,  no  matter  if  they  are  mad ;  I 
have  driven  wild  ones  six-in-hand  in  the  moun- 
tains." That  is  possible,  but  in  the  mountains 
there  are  no  cabs,  hand-carts,  gateways,  or  acute 
angles.  Generally,  these  self-proclaimed  won- 
derful drivers  cannot  drive  four  well-broken 
horses  across  the  city  of  Paris,  and  when  they 
see  some  of  my  routes  they  say:  "It  is  not 
possible  to  pass  there;  1  do  not  want  to  smash 
up."  But  I  insist  that  they  shall  do  as  1  tell 
them,  and  they  pass,  and  are  astonished  after 
six  lessons  to  find  themselves  driving  in  the 
most   crowded   quarters   of  Paris. 

The  turn  into  my  yard  is  difficult,  and  yet 
all  my  pupils  get  in  easily.  A  stranger  said 
to  me:  "That  is  all  very  well;  your  horses 
are  so  well  bitted,  but  mine  are  stupid  and 
disagreeable." 

When  he  had  gone  home  and  had  put  to  in 
my  way,  he  saw,  with  astonishment,  that  his 
horses  obeyed  him  the  first  time  as  well  as  mine, 
simply   because   he   knew   how   to   order  them. 


THE    REINS 


I  was  at  a  coach-meeting  on  a  race-course 
one  day.  One  of  the  coaches  was  filled  with 
people,  and  the  owner  was  on  his  driving 
cushion  with  whip  and  reins  in  his  hands;  you 
should  have  seen  him  leave  the  race-course.  It 
was  something  inconceivable;  one  man  stood  at 
the  head  of  each  horse  while  the  driver  was 
giving  orders  to  everyone  at  once:  "Go  on, 
William,  pull  to  the  left !  John,  don't  go  so 
fast !  Robert,  hit  your  horse  up !  Joseph,  pull 
to  the  right ! "  and  all  sorts  of  orders  creating 
the  greatest  confusion.  It  is  astonishing  to  see 
people  with  courage  enough  to  get  on  a  coach 
and  be  driven  in  such  style,  for  it  is  a  miracle 
if  they  get  in  without  an  accident.  Of  course 
the  owner  of  the  coach,  when  he  gets  in  safely, 
receives   the   usual   compliments. 

it  annoys  me  to  see  a  man  pass  for  a  good 
driver  who,  if  he  were  asked  what  use  he  was 
on  the  driving  cushion,  would  answer:  "To 
tell  my  men  what  to  do,  as  I  cannot  do  it 
mvself." 


54  DRIVING    LESSONS 

It  is  not  difficult  to  say  you  are  a  coach- 
man, for  to  be  able  to  drive  four  horses  on 
the  high-road,  you  must  go  through  with  your 
team  where  others  pass  with  a  pair  of  horses, 
as   the   following   anecdotes   will   prove: 

I  have  often  been  with  my  coach  to  a 
certain  carriage  builder's  yard,  where  it  is  rather 
difficult  to  get  in,  turn  around,  and  come  out 
again.  One  day,  one  of  my  clients,  having  to 
go  into  the  very  same  place,  told  his  coachman 
to  drive  in  with  the  brougham  and  pair ;  he 
was  not  able  to  turn  and  come  out  even  by 
backing  round,  and  they  were  obliged  to  lift 
the  back  part  of  the  carriage.  The  coachman 
was  very  angry,  but  was  to  blame  for  not 
knowing   how   to   do   it. 

One  day,  at  the  Restaurant  Madrid,  in  the 
Bois  de  Boulogne,  a  stranger  pretended  he  knew 
how  to  drive  four  horses,  and  proposed  to  the 
owner  of  a  coach  to  drive  out  of  the  yard, 
pass  through  the  right-hand  gate,  come  in  by 
the   left-hand   gate,   turn  around   in   the  yard  and 


be 

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THE   REINS  55 

come  back  to  the  starting  point.  The  owner 
offered  to  bet  one  thousand  francs  to  five  that 
he  could  not  do  it,  and  the  bet  was  taken. 
I  was  on  the  box  seat  ;  we  passed  through  all 
the  gates  and  turned  round  in  the  yard — how, 
and  by  what  good  fortune,  I  really  do  not 
know  ;  for  the  reins  were  so  mixed  up  in  the 
poor  man's  hands  that  he  was  not  able  to  stop 
until  his  leaders'  heads  were  in  the  doorway 
of  the  room  at  the  left  of  the  gateway.  Con- 
sequently he  lost  the  bet,  and  would  have  done 
so  much  sooner  had  it  not  been  for  his  won- 
derful luck.  The  moral  of  this  little  story  is, 
that  many  drivers  think  themselves  handy  enough 
because  they  have  driven  on  a  highway,  but  are 
quite  incapable  of  driving  into  or  out  of  yards 
in    Paris. 

But  let  us  return  to  a  more  serious  subject. 
If.  on  an  unlucky  day,  you  have  a  horse 
that  cannot  continue  his  route  and  you  must 
nevertheless  get  home,  make  up  a  unicorn,  two 
horses   at   the   wheel   and   one   leader.      Take   off 


56  DRIVING   LESSONS 

the  two  small  bars  from  the  main  bar  and  put 
your  horse  to  it ;  let  out  two  or  three  holes 
in  your  leader's  traces  so  that  he  can  get  a 
little  further  from  the  pole  ;  put  your  other 
leader's  rein  as  if  you  had  the  pair,  only  put 
the  draft  reins  through  the  bit  and  the  couplings 
on  the  noseband,  unless  you  can  slip  your 
hand-pieces  through  the  coupling  buckle  and 
loops.  In  this  case  you  would  have  a  pair  of 
reins  similar  to  tandem  leaders'.  Be  sure  that 
in  starting  you  have  these  two  reins  quite  even; 
to  accomplish  this,  look  for  the  stitchings  of 
your  hand-pieces  as  though  you  had  your  team. 
Be  careful  to  have  the  off-rein  stitching  just 
the  length  of  the  stitching  nearer  to  you  than 
the  near  side  one,  as  this  rein  is  on  at  an 
oblique    angle,    and   the   off-rein    is   on  a   straight 

line. 

Observe  your  reins  carefully  when  you  take 
them  from  the  person  who  has  held  them  while 
you  got  down  from  your  seat,  as  he  may  have 
let    them    slip;     this,    when    you    started,    would 


THE    REINS  S7 

cause  some  of  the  horses  to  turn  around.  Be 
sure  to  look  at  the  stitchings  of  your  leaders' 
handpieces,  to  see  if  they  are  even;  also  see  if 
the  wearing  or  rubbing  of  the  ferrets  on  the  reins 
is  on  the  further  side  from  you.  You  will  then 
either  give  some  rein  or  take  some  up,  whichever 
may  be  necessary,  so  that  the  rubbing  or  working 
of  the  reins  is  in  front  of  the  ferrets.  These  obser- 
vations are  for  daylight,  but  at  night  you  must 
depend  on  the  feeling. 

If  you  want  to  know  how  much  rein  your 
leaders  have  got  out,  or  if  they  are  too  far  out, 
take  the  lead-reins  out  of  your  left  hand  from  in 
front,  and  put  them  in  again  from  behind;  keep 
doing  this  until  you  hear  the  bars  rattle  on  the 
pole-end;  you  are  then  certain  that  the  leaders 
are  not  pulling  on  the  end  of  the  pole.  Then 
give  them  the  proper  amount  of  room  necessary 
to  permit  them  to  run  into  their  collars  and 
carry   the   bars. 

In  coming  down-hill  it  is  quite  necessary  that 
the  leaders  should  be  held  back;    the  bars   being 


S8 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


loose,  cause  a  continual  rattle,  which  is  called  the 
music  of  the  road. 

Sometimes  one's  gloves  are  a  great  nuisance 
when  driving,  because  worn  too  tight.  This 
causes  cramps  in  the  hands.  I  have  often  lent 
my  gloves  to  pupils  who  thought  that  they  only 
needed  to  wear  them  to  drive  well,  but,  unluckily 
for  them,  they  could  not  keep  up  illusion.  To 
drive  comfortably,  you  must  have  your  gloves 
two  sizes  larger  than  for  general  use. 


The   Lamps 


The  lamps  ought  onlv  to  be  put  on  the  coach 
at  night,  for,  by  daylight  they  risk  being  broken, 
and  get  soiled  with  mud  in  wet  weather.  They 
can  never  be  put  too  low  on  a  carriage,  for  they 
are  meant  to  light  the  ground  and  not  the  sky. 

1  always  use  wax  candles  in  my  lamps, 
finding  that  with  oil  there  is  always  something 
going  wrong;  the  oil  becomes  thick,  the  wicks 
run  down,  etc.  The  large  reflectors  give  a  lot 
of  light,  and  as  these  lamps  cross  their  lights 
fo.rward,  they  show  you  that  the  road  is  all  right 
ahead,  although  you  are  in  the  dark. 


6o 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


A  third  lamp,  under  the  footboard,  is  very- 
useful,  as  it  shines  between  the  horses,  showing 
you  the  pole,  the  bars,  and  the  ground  you  are 
traveling  on.  Be  sure  to  place  this  lamp  so  that 
it  does  not  touch  the  wheelers  when  you  turn. 
I  don't  think  five  lamps  are  necessary  ;  the  two 
extra  ones  are  often  in  the  way. 


The   Brake 


The  best  sort  of  brake  is  the  one  in  which 
the  crank  is  pushed  forward  in  applying,  for 
in  that  way  the  heavier  the  pressure  becomes, 
the  position  you  assume  allows  you  to  use 
greater  strength.  The  one  you  draw  towards 
you,  on  the  contrary,  becomes  more  difficult 
to  apply  as  the  tension  increases,  as  the  position 
you  assume  prevents  your  using  all  your  strength. 
When  you  push  the  brake  forward,  the  left 
shoulder  comes  back ;  when,  on  the  contrary, 
you  pull  it  backward,  the  left  shoulder  goes 
forward  ;  this  makes  you  give  rein  to  the  horses, 


62  DRIVING   LESSONS 

which  they  answer  by  running  on,  which  is 
quite   contrary   to   what   you   wish    them    to    do. 

Here  is  a  case:  We  were  stopping,  one 
day,  at  Bougival,  on  our  w^iy  to  St.  Germain, 
when  the  gentleman  who  was  driving  said  to 
me:  "How  tiresome  your  horses  are.  Hewlett; 
the  leaders  are  all  on  one  side."  1  had  seen 
it  all  along,  but  an  observation,  on  that  account, 
would  not  have  been  well  received.  Naturally, 
I  profited  by  his  remark  to  make  him  under- 
stand it  was  his  own  fault,  and  that  by  giving 
his  near  leader  one  foot  of  rein  all  would  be 
quite  straight.  "Do  you  think  so  .^^ "  he  asked 
me.  He  soon  saw  that  I  had  advised  him 
correctly,  as  everything  went  smoothly  while 
we   were   doing  the  second  part  of  our  journey. 

Put  the  brake  on  each  time  you  stop  to 
let  anybody  get  up  or  down,  or  for  yourself, 
if  you  have  to  do  so.  But  do  not  forget  to 
take  it  off  before  starting,  and  that  always 
without  noise.  1  have  often  seen  horses  start 
on   hearing   the   lever   rub   against    the    cranks,    if 


THE   BRAKE 


63 


they     were     standing    still,     or    run     on     if    they 
were   already   eoino;. 


The  Skid 


Many  coach-builders  put  the  hook  to  hang 
the  shoe  or  skid  on,  behind  the  arms  of  the  brake, 
so  that  you  have  to  pass  your  arm  through  the 
spokes  of  the  wheel  to  hang  it  up.  That  is  very 
inconvenient  and  dangerous;  for  if  at  that  moment 
the  horses  move  on,  you  risk  having  your  arm 
broken  or  your  hands  bruised.  This  hook  ought 
to  be  quite  deep,  open  at  the  top  and  away  from 
the  carriage,  and  placed  between  the  iron  bar  of 
the  brake  and  the  steps. 


The  Bridle 


The  model  1  prefer  is  the   English   one,   with 
the  buckle  on  top  of  the  winker,  so  as  to  allow 
it  to  play  on  the   horse's  cheek 
easily,  having  no  fixtures  to  pre- 
vent it  spreading  away  from  the 
horse's  head  as  wide  as  the  eye- 
bone    requires.       In   the    French 
model  they  often   have  the  bad 
habit  of  sewing  the  top  buckle 
so  that  the   upper  part  of  it  is         English  model. 
even    with    the    top    of  the    winker;    the    winker 
being  fixed   in   this   way   does   not  give  easily  to 


66 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


'-.^"'fc^.'V,-.^*.'^ 


the  horse's  head  ;  this  causes  hard  rubbing, 
which  is  continually  wounding  the  bony  part 
and   making   sores. 


FRENCH    MODKL. 


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O 


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The  Terrets  of  the  Wheelers' 

Bridle 

The  bridle  terrets  of  the  wheelers  ought  to  be 
round  and  sewed  on  to  the  throat  latches,  just 
about  where  the  bearing  rein  terrets  are  sewed. 
Placed  at  this  point  they  play  easily  when  the 
wheelers  shake  their  heads  up  and  down,  and  so 
prevent  the  leaders'  mouths  from  receiving  a  jerk. 
On  the  contrary,  when  the  terrets  are  between  the 
wheelers'  ears,  or  on  the  cockades,  every  time  the 
wheeler  shakes  his  head  it  gives  a  jerk  or  a  dis- 
agreeable pull  to  the  leader's  mouth.  Nevertheless, 
if  you  have  a  leader  that  is  always  putting  his  tail 
over  the  rein,  1  would  advise  you  to  run  the  rein 
through  a  head  terret,  but  this  is  hardly  ever 
necessary. 

Should  you  want  a  bearing  rein  on  your 
wheeler,  it  can  be  done  by  having  a  bar  across 
the  terret,  like  a  tandem  wheeler's  pad  terret,  the 
bearing  rein  running  below  and  the  draft  rein  above. 


The    Noseband 


The  best  noseband  is  made  as  one  strap 
(see  cut  of  English  bridle).  On  one  side  the 
bit  billet  of  the  winker  runs  through  it,  which 
prevents  it  -turning  around ;  on  the  other  side 
it  runs  through  the  said  billet ;  a  loop  sewed 
on  the  billet  about  one  inch-and-a-half  from  its 
buckle  allows  the  parts  of  the  billet  to  be  held 
together  when  it  is  buckled  ;  it  is  then  more 
stylish. 

The  noseband  should  be  short  enough  to 
be  able,  in  case  of  need,  to  entirely  shut  the 
horse's  mouth,  which  renders  useless  the  strap 
generally   used   for  that   purpose. 

The  place  for  a  noseband  is  just  above 
the   bit. 


THE   NOSEBAND  69 

Nearly  all  harness-makers  make  their  nose- 
bands too  long,  particularly  in  the  buckle-end, 
under  the  jaw.  If  the  noseband  be  in  two 
pieces,  you  should  so  arrange  it  that  you  can 
shut   your   horse's   mouth   if  you  need  to  do   so. 

Many  people  do  not  know  the  use  of  a 
noseband.  It  is  indispensable  for  shutting  the 
horse's  mouth  when  you  use  the  big  high 
port  bit. 


The  Traces 


When  the  horses  are  put  to,  and  you  see 
an  angle  in  your  traces  and  hame-tug  from  the 
collar  to  the  splinter  bar,  just  at  the  pad,  it  is 
because  the  trace-bearer  is  too  tight,  which 
tends  to  make  sore  backs  and  carry  part  of 
the  weight  of  the  coach  on  the  backs  of  the 
horses. 


The    Pole    Chains 


In  France,  pole  chains  are  generally  put  on 
too  tight,  which  prevents  the  collar  carrying 
on   the  shoulder   point. 

You  must  have  a  horse  at  his  ease  when 
put  to,  for  he  has  work  to  do.  Do  not  cause 
him   any   uneasiness   in    his   work. 

In  team  work,  pole  chains  ought  to  be 
loose  enough  to  allow  the  wheelers  to  gallop  if 
it  be   necessary. 


The    Cruppers 


Crupper  straps  must  not  pass  any  further 
back  than  the  last  loop  for  your  leaders,  or 
the  couplings  will  catch  in  them  and  very 
likely   cause  trouble. 

The  best  cruppers  for  leaders  ought  to  be 
made  like  the  strap  part  of  a  bearing  rein,  as 
in  this  figure. 


The  sewed  crupper  docks  are  better  than 
those  with  buckles ;  they  are  softer  and  mark 
the  horse  less,   having  no  heavy  parts   anywhere. 


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The    Collar 


The  collar  should  be  thick  and  well  stuffed 
inside,  in  order  to  fit  the  horse's  shoulders.  A 
collar  that  is  too  small  chokes  him,  and  one 
too   large  wounds  his  shoulders   and   his  withers. 


The  Pole 


Nearly  all  poles  are  made  too  long,  par- 
ticularly  the   ones   made   for  four   horses. 

I  have  often  been  obliged  to  have  them  cut 
one  foot  shorter,  of  course  at  the  hook  end, 
to   bring   the   leaders   nearer  to  me. 


The  screw  hooks  on  pole  heads  are  very 
dangerous,  having  only  four  turns  round  to  the 
screw  to  hold  it,  the  worms  are  quickly  worn 
out,  the  hook  gets  loose,  and  finishes  by  falling 
right  or  left.  Many  have  what  they  call  a  safety 
hook,    but    it    is    so    small    (something    like    the 


THE   POLE  75 

safety  reins  used  here  in  Paris),  and  being  bored 
with  holes  for  the  bolt,  it  leaves  hardly  any 
iron — so   no   more   strength. 

What  is  wanted  is  one  good  hook,  strong 
enough  to  stand  all  the  jerks  and  kicks  it 
may  get. 

I  went  to  a  place  called  Robinson,  one  day, 
with  a  new  coach.  All  the  iron  mountings  of 
the  pole  and  bars  stretched  on  going  u^  the 
hills.  They  should  have  been  of  steel.  This 
showed  that  the  builder  of  the  coach  wanted 
it  to  look  light  and  elegant  in  the  coach-house, 
but  neglected  to  make  it  strong  enough  to  be 
used   out   of  doors. 


The    Bars 


The  bars  should  be  strong  enough  to  stand 
the  various  strains  they  are  sometimes  called 
upon  to  bear.  The  hooks  should  have  springs, 
to  keep  the  traces  from  falling  off.  The  main 
bar's  shackle  wants  to  be  of  good  material,  also 
the  pole-hook,  as  the  working  of  the  two  wears 
them   very   much. 


Martingale 
and    Hame    Straps 

The  billet  of  the  wheelers'  martingales  ought 
to  be  one  foot  long  from  the  heel  of  the  buckle 
to  the  point,  with  three  or  four  holes  in  it,  so 
as  to  go  around  the  collar  and  through  the  kidney 
link;  this  prevents  the  harness  from  coming  off  the 
collar  at  a  sudden  jerk  or  a  rough  stop.  Another 
very  essential  thing,  to  which  the  harness- 
makers  do  not  pay  enough  attention,  is  that 
the  tongues  of  the  buckles  do  not  carry  enough 
on  the  roller,  and  particularly  so  with  covered 
buckles.  If  the  point  of  the  tongue  only  carries 
on  the  roller's  edge,  or  on  the  leather  covering, 
without  resting  over  the  middle,  the  resistance 
is  very  poor,  and   the  harness  may  fall  down  on 


78  DRIVING    LESSONS 

the  horses'  legs  and  cause  a  mishap.  These 
hame  straps  play  a  more  important  part  than 
one  thinks,  for  the  two  tongues  of  the  buckles 
have  to  support  all  the  weight  the  wheelers  use 
when  asked  to  hold  back.  So,  remember  to 
have  these  straps  strong,  and  mounted  with 
good   and   well-made  buckles. 


f 


The    Horn 


It  is  usual  for  the  guard  of  a  coach  to  be 
able  to  blow  the  horn,  to  clear  the  road.  In 
olden  times  the  horn  was  about  three  feet  long, 
and  one  could  only  get  three  or  four  notes  out; 
only  virtuosos  could  get  five  notes  out,  as  it 
was   very   hard   to   do. 

Nowadays  they  make  horns  over  fifty  inches 
long,  which  easily  give  five  notes  and  sound 
more   mellow. 

These  long  ones  being  easier  to  blow,  some 
men  get  six  notes  from  them,  but  they  have 
the  drawback  of  being  cumbersome  and  too  frail. 


8o 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


The  sound  of  the  short  horns  is  more  sharp 
and   shrill   than   that   of  the   long   ones. 

They  were  formerly  made  of  copper,  but 
are   now   generally   made   of  brass. 

The  gutta-percha-covered  mouthpiece  is  less 
cold  to  the  lips  than  the  silver  or  silver-plated 
one. 


The    ''Guard's    Bag" 


The  guard's  bag,  used  for  road  coaches,  is 
to  carry  his  way-bill,  the  keys  of  the  coach, 
and  a  watch.  This  watch  is  to  enable  him  to 
see  that  the  coachman  keeps  time  on  the  road, 
and   gets   to   each   change   on  time. 


The    Basket 


It  is  indispensable  to  have  a  basket  to  put 
sticks,  umbrellas,  parasols,  and  the  guard's  horn 
in.  The  depth  of  the  basket  varies  from  two 
feet  and  a  half  to  three  feet,  one  foot  broad 
(if  one  side  is  flat),  and  ten  inches  across.  It 
ought  to  be  hung  on  the  left  side  of  the  coach, 
on  the  back-seat  over  the  body;  if  it  is  strapped 
only  to  the  top  railing,  it  will  give  should  you 
catch  as  you  go  by  a  branch  of  a  tree  or  the 
post   of   a   gateway. 


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The    Driving-Cushion 


The  driving-cushion  should  be  tlat  enough 
so  that  the  shaking  or  jolting  of  the  carriage 
will  not  make  you  slip  forward,  and  should  be 
long  enough  to  reach  nearly  to  the  back  of  the 
knees. 

Driving-cushions,  as  they  generally  make 
them,  are  high  and  have  too  much  incline, 
putting  all  the  weight  of  the  body  on  the  legs, 
which  is  very  fatiguing  on  a  long  journey. 
Moreover,  the  jerks  of  the  carriage  cause  you 
to  slip  forward,  which  obliges  you  to  be  con- 
tinually pushing  yourself  into  your  place.  With 
the  high  cushions  a  man  may  easilv  be  pulled 
off  the  box  by  his  horses  ;  with  the  tlrst  men- 
tioned, on  the  contrary,  he  has  a  tlrm  seat  and 
can   resist. 


The    Driving-Seat 


The  driving-seats  of  nearly  all  French  car- 
riages are  made  rather  too  far  back,  a  mistake 
akin  to  having  the  pole  too  long,  as  it  puts 
the   driver  too   far   away   from    his   horses. 

Coach  builders  have,  without  doubt,  good 
reasons  for  making  them  so,  but  it  is  not  handy 
for  the  one  who  has  to  drive  ;  the  nearer  you 
are  to  the  horses  the  better  off  you  are.  The 
reason  the  coach  builders  give  for  placing  the 
seat  back  is,  that  otherwise  the  footboards  would 
touch  the  wheelers'  tails  and  make  them  kick. 
To  avoid  this  they  have  only  to  make  the  foot- 
board  higher. 


DRIVING   SEAT  85 

Last  year  a  pupil  bought  from  me  a  set  of 
four-horse  reins  to  drive  an  ordinary  break,  but 
the  driving-seat  was  so  far  behind  his  horses, 
and  his  pole  of  such  an  unreasonable  length, 
that  my  reins,  although  long  ones,  were  so  much 
too  short  for  him  that  he  was  unable  to  use 
them. 

The  nearer  the  horses  are  to  the  driver  the 
more  enjoyable  is  the  driving ;  consequently,  it 
is  best  to  emplov  every  means  to  diminish  the 
length  of  the  turnout — a  short  pole  and  pole- 
hook,  and  main  shackle  only  long  enough  to 
run  in  its  place  easily,  with  the  hooks  of  the 
bars  short,  but  the  traces  long  enough  to  pre- 
vent the  bars  from  touching  the  leaders'  quarters 
or  hocks. 


THE    LESSON 


THE   LESSON 


HOW  TO  TAKE  THE  REINS.  AND  GET  ON 
THE  BOX. 

When  the  horses  are  put  to,  walk  around 
them  and  make  sure  that  everything  is  in  its 
place ;  notice,  above  all,  how  your  horses  are 
bitted,  in  order  to  know  what  to  do  when 
driving  them — either  to  give  or  take  holes  in 
the  couplings;  to  tighten  or  loosen  the  curbs;  to 
let  down  or  take  up  the  bits;  to  tighten  or 
loosen   the   nosebands,    etc.,    etc. 

Always  get  up  on  the  right  with  a  team 
put   to,  and   your   passengers   up,    otherwise    you 


.92  DRIVING    LESSONS 

would   have   to   pass   in   front   of   the    person    on 
the  box   seat,    for  the   driver  gets   up   last. 

To  pick  up  the  reins  you  stand  even  with 
the  off  wheeler's  pad,  about  a  foot  and  a  half 
from  him,  with  the  body  slightly  turned  toward 
the  leaders.  You  take  the  hand-pieces  out  of 
their  place,  they  are  generally  run  through  the 
pad  terret,  or  between  the  pad  and  the  hame 
tug  strap,  letting  them  fall  in  front  of  you. 
With  the  left  hand  you  take  hold  of  the  rein 
that  is  running  through  the  middle  terret  of  the 
near  wheeler's  pad  ;  draw  it  to  you,  watching  it 
as  it  comes  through  the  ferrets  of  the  near 
leader.  Mind  not  to  move  your  feet.  Draw 
this  rein  to  you  until  you  feel  your  leaders' 
mouths,  but  draw  delicately  so  as  not  to  make 
them  run  back.  Then  loosen  your  hold  and 
run  your  hand  down  the  rein,  so  that  your 
arm  hangs  naturally  in  front  of  you,  but  do  not 
bend.  At  this  moment  tighten  your  hand  on 
the  rein,  for  you  are  now  holding  the  part  that 
you   will   hold   when   on   the  box,    driving. 


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THE   LESSON  93 

Then  take  the  rein  running  through  the 
middle  terret  of  the  olT  wheeler's  pad,  and 
draw  until  you  feel  that  you  slightly  touch  his 
mouth. 

The  right  hand  has,  as  yet,  had  nothing 
to  do  ;  it  now  comes  into  use  to  pull,  or  draw, 
the  off  leader's  rein  out  towards  the  horse  until 
you  see  the  little  buckles  of  the  hand-pieces 
hanging  even  at  the  bottom  of  your  reins  ;  this 
is  your  level. 

If  your  leaders  are  not  in  their  collars  and 
the  bars  are  hanging,  give,  or  draw,  out  eight 
inches  more  rein,  and  eight  more  if  the  leaders 
are  standing  quite  back  near  the  pole-head. 
They  ought  to  be  about  two  feet  away  from 
it.  Then  put  the  middle  finger  of  your  right 
hand  between  these  two  reins,  without  short- 
ening or  lengthening,  and  take  them  out  of 
your  left  hand.  Then  take  the  near  wheeler's 
rein  with  the  left  hand,  between  the  index  and 
the  middle  fingers  ;  this  is  its  place  while  driving. 
Draw  it  to   you,  looking   at   the   coupling   rein  of 


94 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


your  off  wheeler,  and  delicately  do  the  same  as 
to  your  near  leader,  so  as  not  to  make  them 
run   back.      Then   slide    your    left    hand    up    the 


POSITION    I 


off  wheeler's  rein  until  near  the  terret ;  clasp  it 
full  in  your  hand  and  draw  it  to  you  until 
you    see    or    feel    it   is   tight  enough,    then,  with 


THE    LESSON 


Q=; 


the  lingers  of  the   right   hand   draw  out  this  rein 
from   your   left,   as   you   did   for  your   off  leader's 


POSITION   2 

rein.      Then    put   the    off  wheeler's   rein   between 
the    middle    and    the    fourth    fingers ;     place    the 


q6 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


leader's  reins  in  the  left  hand  with  the  index- 
finger  parting  them,  and  shut  your  hand.  In 
this  way  vou    are   ready  to   driye   away   as   soon 


POSITION  3 


as   you   are   on   the  box    {see  position   i). 

If  you  get  up   on   any  other   carriage   than  a 
coach,   the   driving-cushion   being  farther  back,   it 


THE  LESSON 


97 


is  necessary  to  lengthen  the  reins  about  eight, 
ten  or  twelve  inches  ;  that  is  done  by  running 
your     left    hand     back,     while     holding     all     the 


POSITION   4 


reins   with   your   right,  to   the   distance  you  think 
necessary. 

When    ready   to   mount   your   box,    put   your 


98 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


reins  in  the  right,  having  run  the  fingers  of  the 
right  hnnd  between  the  same  reins  as  those  of 
the    left    hand  ;    take   the    whip,    if   it   is   on    the 


POSITION    s 


horses'   backs,    with    the    left    and    put   it    in   the 
right   hand. 

If   the    hand-pieces    are    hanging    from    your 


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THE    LESSON  99 

hand  more  than  three  feet  or  so,  it  is  well  to 
take  hold  of  the  two  little  buckles  at  the  end 
with  your  left,  and  hang  the  leather  part  on  the 
little  finger  of  the  right  hand. 

To  get  up  on  the  box,  grasp  the  handle  of 
the  foot-board  with  the  right  hand  {see  position  2) 
and  put  your  left  foot  on  the  hub,  and  the 
right  foot  on  the  splinter-bar  {see  position  5),  and 
reaching  for  the  rail  around  the  seat  with  your 
left  hand,  you  put  the  left  foot  on  the  body-step 
{see  position  4),  and  lastly  the  right  foot  on  the 
foot-board.  You  replace  the  reins  in  your  left 
hand,  letting  the  two  little  buckles  fall  on  your 
left,  keeping  the  whip  in  the  right  {see  position  5) 
and  sit  down,  holding  your  left  hand  about  six 
inches  from  you  at  the  level  of  the  pit  of  the 
stomach  ;  observe  that  in  all  these  movements 
you  must  not  let  any  of  the  reins  slip  out.  You 
are  now  ready  to  start. 

THE    START 
Keep    your    horses    straight    when     starting. 
Put  the  middle  finger  of  the  right   hand   between 


lOO  DRIVING    LESSONS 

the  wheelers'  reins,  keeping  all  the  fingers  wide 
open,  about  six  inches  in  front  of  your  left  hand ; 
then  shut  the  fingers,  at  the  same  time  lifting  up 
your  right  and  carrying  it  outward.  The  ends 
of  the  reins  drop  below  the  little  finger.  While 
you  are  dropping  or  giving  your  left,  you  give 
your  call  to  start. 

if  you  are  near  a  left-hand  curbstone,  put 
the  right  hand  on  the  two  right-hand  reins,  pull 
the  hand  about  six  or  eight  inches  from  the 
left,  drop  the  left  and  ask  for  your  start  {see 
position  6).  If  you  are  near  the  right-hand  curb- 
stone, put  one  of  the  right-hand  fingers  between 
the  two  left  reins — the  middle  finger  is  the  best — 
about  six  or  eight  inches  from  your  left  hand, 
gently,  drop  the  left  hand  and  you  will  start 
without  touching  the  curbstone. 

Start  your  horses  on  with  your  usual  call, 
except  when  you  are  surrounded  by  other  car- 
riages; then  you  must  lightly  touch  your  leaders 
with  the  whip,  and  bring  it  across  your  wheelers; 
above   all,    never    make   a    noise    with   the   whip. 


THE   LESSON 


loi 


Once  you  have  given  your  leaders  the  possibility 
of  starting,  you  must,  just  as  they  are  reaching 
their    collars,    loose    the    wheel    reins    so    that    all 


POSITION   0 


four  horses  move  the  carriage  away  at  once. 
You  should  never  allow  your  leaders  to  start 
your    coach    alone,    for    in    that    case     you     risk 


I02  DRIVING    LESSONS 

breaking    a     bar    or    snapping    your     pole-hook. 

Do  not  ask  a  number  of  times  for  a  start — 
once  is  enough, — only  give  the  horses  the  time 
necessary  and  enough  rein  to  get  away.  Do  not 
hurry  at  starting,  because  you  may  have  one  or 
several  reins  to  adjust. 

If  you  have  a  leader  slow  at  starting,  have 
your  whip  unfurled,  with  the  point  in  your  hand, 
so  as  to  be  able  to  send  it  out  to  him  to  put 
him  in  his  place.  If  you  have  a  deaf  horse, 
touch  him  with  the  whip  as  you  give  your  call. 

When  you  leave  a  yard  to  go  out  in  the 
street,  you  must  make  a  point  or  loop  just  as 
the  leaders'  forefeet  are  in  the  gutter,  or  leaving 
the   curbstone,    if  there   is   one. 

THE  POINT 
When  the  leaders'  heads  get  level  with  the 
edge  of  the  sidewalk,  you  take  hold  with  the 
thumb  of  the  right  hand  above,  and  forefinger 
below,  the  right  leader's  rein,  about  eight  inches 
from  the  left  hand  ;  you  bring  that  part  of  the 
rein    under  the   thumb  of  the   left   hand.     At  the 


THE    LESSON 


103 


same  time  this  is  being  done,  the  left  thumb  must 
be  lifted  up  so  as  to  receive  the  point,  at  this 
moment  the  right  hand  fmds  itself  behind  the  left; 
press  down  the  left  thumb  and  hold  the  point  until 


RIGHT-HAND    POINT 


your  leaders  are  around  the  corner  and  just  getting 
straight.  Then  onlv,  you  gently  lift  your  left  thumb 
and  the  rein  runs  out  into  its  place.  That  is  a 
right-hand  point.  The  point  exists  only  if  it  is 
deposited    under  the   thumb   of  the   left   hand. 


I04  DRIVING    LESSONS 

Whether  you  drive  very  well  or  not,  always 
start  with  your  horses  walking  ;  that  gives  you 
time  to  judge  if  everything  is  all  right,  and 
gradually  trains  your  muscles  instead  of  straining 
them    all   at   once. 

If  you  have  very  sharp  wheelers,  and  you 
want  to  trot,  put  your  hand  on  the  wheelers' 
reins  as  for  the  start ;  then,  placing  your  left 
hand  under  your  right,  give  the  leaders  your 
call,  and  they  will  start  off  in  a  trot  without 
having  the  wheelers  rush  the  pole  and  bars  into 
their  quarters,  which  would  be  asking  them  to 
kick.  • 

THE     STOP 

To  stop:  when  your  left  hand  is  at  the 
pivot,  that  is,  at  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  four 
or  five  inches  from  the  body,  you  place  the 
middle  tlnger  of  your  right  hand  between  the 
two  near,  or  left-hand  side  reins,  at  eight  inches 
from  the  left  hand,  then  raise  the  left  hand 
above  the  right,  stretching  the  reins.  Then  shut 
the  fingers  of  the   right   hand   on   the   four   reins, 


THE   LESSON 


lO: 


and  gradually  bring  the  right  hand  toward  your 
chest.  This,  1  call  the  dead-stop  ;  this  com- 
mand is  very  powertlil,  and  you  must  use  it 
progressively  and  only  as  much   as    is  necessary. 


THE    DEAD-STOP 

You  can  use   the    dead-stop    in  whatever   position 

you  may  be  in,   even  while  turning   acute  angles. 

If  you    have    horses  with    heavy  mouths   and 

others  with  light  mouths,  you  must  stop  right  to 


I06  DRIVING   LESSONS 

he  able  to  leave   go   the   rein   necessary,  and  per- 
haps take  it  up  again. 

On  certain  occasions  the  last  part  of  a  stop 
is  made  on  one  rein  only. 

TURNING    A    RIGHT    ANGLE 
To  the  Right 

Now  we  arrive  at  turning  a  right  angle  to 
the  right,  the  left  hand  at  the  pivot  as  when  we 
started,  or  a  bit  higher  than  the  elbow,  with  the 
hand  bent  to  the  body  and  never  toward  the 
horses.  All  the  team  being  straight,  to  turn, 
keep  as  much  as  you  can  in  the  middle  of  the 
street.  You  put  on  a  little  opposition  to  the  left 
by  turning  the  wrist  as  if  you  were  drinking  ; 
to  do  this  well,  turn  the  wrist  on  its  axis,  then 
lift  it  gently  without  pulling  too  hard,  because  it 
would  stop  the  horses.  You  must  always  feel 
the  horses'  mouths  with  a  very  light  hand. 

If  the  leaders  are  too  much  in  their  collars 
they  must  be  brought  back  ;  to  do  this,  put  the 
risht  middle  finger  between  the  leaders'  reins  in 
front  of  the  left  hand  ;   shut  your  right   hand  and 


THE   LESSON  I07 

bring  the  lead  reins  out  by  parting  your  hands 
horizontally,  without  raising  or  lowering,  and 
bring  the  reins  back  in  their  place.  In  bringing 
the  right  hand  behind  the  left,  shut  the  left  hand, 
slide  your  right  hand  down  the  reins — say  six  or 
eight  inches — and  they  will  leave  your  fingers. 
This  precaution  will  prevent  the  leaders  pulling 
on  the  end  of  the  pole  and  prevent  straining  it. 

To  adjust  the  wheelers'  reins,  it  suffices  to 
draw  them  from  behind  or  pull  them  out  in 
front,  either  to  shorten  or  lengthen  them  ;  but 
when,  as  above,  you  have  the  leaders  in  the 
right  hand,  you  can,  with  the  thumb  and  fingers 
of  your  right  hand,  draw  the  wheelers  in  also,  if 
you  like  that  way  best. 

When  asking  for  a  point,  never  put  the  left 
hand  forward  to  receive  the  point — or  for  any 
other  movement — because  it  gives  to  the  horses 
and  puts  on  extra  pace. 

You  make  your  point  to  the  right  (see  picture — 
point  to  the  right)  at  the  moment  when  your 
leaders'  feet  are  level  with  the  tlrst   gutter  of  the 


io8 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


Street  you  want  to  turn  into,  and  as  soon  as 
you  have  pointed,  your  right  hand  must  go  to 
the  left  opposition  rein,  that  is  the  near  wheeler's, 
to  hold  him  from  rushing  you  around  the  corner; 


THE    RIGHT-HAND    POINT 
Made  hetiDeen  the  index  and  niiddle  fmqers 

to  catch  this  rein,  as  much  as  possible  let  your 
fingers  be  wide  open,  so  that  the  rein  lands 
above  or  below  the  middle  finger  before  you 
clasp.      Eight   times   out  of  ten  you  want  oppo- 


THE    LESSON  IO9 

sition  on  your  wheelers,  but  should  your  wheelers 
be  distracted  and  looking  the  other  way,  then, 
on  the  contrary,  you  must  help  the  lot  to  turn; 
to  do  this  you  take  the  two  right  reins  with 
your  right  hand  at  about  six  or  eight  inches 
from  the  left,  holding  your  right  hand  level 
with  your  elbow,  or  a  little  higher ;  you  then 
drop  the  left  gently,  as  much  as  is  necessary, 
keeping  both  hands  in  front  of  you  even  if  they 
are  one  above  the  other ;  never  hold  your  hands 
wide  apart,  and  always  keep  the  elbows  near 
the  sides  of  the  body.  The  right  hand  ought 
always  to  be  above  the  left,  except  at  starting, 
steadying,    or   dead-stops. 

You  must  learn  how  to  judge  the  room 
necessary  to  turn  in.  You  turn  more  easily 
by  dropping  the  left  hand  than  by  pulling  with 
the  right,  and  you  cannot  drop  the  left  for  a 
turning  movement  if  you  have  not  got  the  other 
two   reins   in   your   right. 

To  practice  this  order  begin  on  a  straight 
line  ;   lav  hold   of  the   two   right  reins  with  your 


I  lO 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


right  hand,  about  eight  or  ten  inches  from  the 
left  hand  ;  hold  them  well,  and  drop  the  left 
very  gradually  ;  then  bring  the  left  to  the  pivot 
and    reverse    the    side,    and    you    will    see    how 


easily   and   quickly   they   will   give   to   you. 

Always  give  the  horses  time  to  execute  the 
movements.  After  each  order  bring  your  hands 
back   to   their   places. 


THE    LESSON  111 

Once  the  corner  is  finished,  leave  go  of 
the  point,  and  then  of  the  opposition.  If  the 
street  you  have  just  turned  into  is  down-hill, 
hold  the  opposition  a  bit  longer.  If  the  hill  is 
very  steep,  hold  the  two  opposition  reins  in  the 
right  hand  and  drop  the  left;  keep  your  right  hand 
in  its  place,  rather  above  the  level  of  your  elbow 
than  below  it.  and  never  carry  it  toward  the  left, 
but  rather  toward  the  right.  In  this  way  your 
strength  is  a  hundred  per  cent  greater. 

To  sum  up.  to  turn  a  right  angle  to  the  right 
you  have  live  orders  to  make — first,  bring  back 
the  leaders:  second,  point  the  off  lead  rein;  third, 
opposition  on  the  wheeler,  or  help  with  the  two 
right-hand  reins,  as  the  case  may  be ;  fourth,  let  go 
the  point;  fifth,  let  go  the  wheeler  or  the  helping. 

TURNING   TO   THE    LEFT 
At  Right  Angles 

For  a  turn  to  the  left  at  right  angles,  you 
have  also  five  orders  or  questions  to  ask  for — 
first,    bring   back   the  leaders;    second,    point    the 


I  1 2  DRIVING   LESSONS 

near  leader  (see  plate)  to  the  left;  third,  opposition 
on  the  off  wheeler's  rein,  or  help  with  the  two 
left  reins,  as  the  case  may  be;  fourth,  loose  the 
point;  fifth,  loose  the  wheeler's  rein. 


TURNING   AN   ACUTE   ANGLE 
To  the  Right 

About  ten  yards  before  you  get  to  the  corner 
you  gently  bring  back  your  leaders  about  eight 
or  ten  inches  (double  the  distance  taken  for  a 
right  angle) ;  you  hold  your  team  to  the  left  by 
turning  your  left  hand  to  you.  Then  fit  your 
reins  to  be  at  ease,  generally  the  left  hand  well 
up  high,  by  running  vour  left  hand  back  while 
grasping  the  reins  with  the  right.  It  is  the  only 
way  to  take  all  up  or  let  all  out  a  bit.  Just  when 
the  leaders'  heads  are  even  with  the  corner  of 
the  curbstone,  take,  between  the  two  lead  reins, 
with  the  right-hand  thumb  and  forefinger,  the  left 
wheeler's  rein,  at  about  three  or  four  inches  from 
the  left  hand  and  place  it  around  the  wrist,  at  the 


THE   LESSON 


113 


back  of  the  last  joint  of  the  thumb,  by  turning  the 
fingers  of  the  left  hand  outwards  to  help  deposit 
the  rein,  and  lifting  the  thumb  upwards  to  pre- 
vent  it   slipping   down,    the   hands   pointing   well 


LF.FT-HAND    POINT 


across  the  bodv  (see  plate,  opposition  round  the 
•wrist  or  thumb).  You  then  make  a  point  of  six 
inches  with  the  right  lead  rein,  this  point  between, 
the  index  and  middle  fmgers  of  the  left  hand; 
then    quickly    make    an    eight-inch    point    in    the 


114 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


same  way.  This  point  made  in  this  way  between 
the  index  and  middle  fingers  cannot  be  done  by 
a  beginner,  but  can  be  practiced  just  as  well  at  a 
right  angle  as  at  an  acute  one.     If,  while  turning, 


Near  wlieeler 
Near  leader. 
Off  leader. 

Off  wheeler. 


LEFT    OPPOSITION    ROUND   THE   THUMB 


you  wish  to  avoid  an  obstacle  on  the  right,  you 
turn  your  left  hand  to  you;  if,  on  the  contrary, 
you  want  to  avoid  something  placed  on  your  left, 
you  turn  the  hand,  the  thumb  pointing  to  the 
ground,   that   brings   your   hand    beside   your  left 


THE   LESSON 


115 


thiiih.  If  by  this  means  vou  find  that  vou  have 
not  power  enough,  take  the  two  left  reins  or  the 
two  right-hand  ones,  as  the  case  may  be;  the 
right  hand  at  eight  inches  from  the  left  and  drop 


Near  wlieeler. 
Near  leader. 

OlT  leader. 
Off  wheeler. 


LEFT  OPPOSITION  WITH  TWO  POINTS  TO  THE  RIGHT 


the  left  hand  as  the  leaders  are  straight  with  the 
street,  gently  loosen  your  points,  letting  them  run 
out,  by  opening  the  forefmger.  Then  turn  your 
hand  over,  the  thumb  toward  the  horses,  and  the 
left  opposition  will  slide  off  the  thumb. 


I  l6  •  DRIVING   LESSONS 

For  a  more  acute  angle  it  is  always  necessary 
to  help  the  horses  to  come  to  the  right  at  the 
finish  of  the  turn.  To  sum  up:  in  the  acute  angle 
you  have  seven  orders,  or  commands,  to  make — 
first  bring  back  the  leaders  ten  inches;  second, 
opposition  on  your  left  thumb;  third,  two  points 
to  the  right;  fourth,  lay  hold  of  the  two  right 
reins  and  drop  the  left;  fifth,  let  the  two  points 
run  out;  sixth,  let  your  thumb  opposition  run 
off;  seventh,  draw  out  your  near  leader  ten 
inches,  then  the  off,   ten    inches  quickly. 

For  acute  angles  you  must  take  up  or  back 
your  leaders  ten  inches  of  rein.  This  makes  the 
traces  loose  and  the  bars  hang;  for,  if  you  did 
not,  the  near  leader  when  going  around  would 
draw  so  hard  on  the  end  of  the  pole  that  nine 
times  out  of  ten  it  would  break  the  pole,  if  the 
coach  were  loaded.  Poles  will  not  stand  such  a 
strain.  If  turning  to  the  left,  it  would  be  the 
off  leader  that  would  pull  too  hard. 

Have  your  leaders  well  in  hand,  and  your 
hand  well  in  its  place,    so  that  the  leaders'  traces 


o 


be 
O 


c 


o 


O 


THE    LESSON 

hang,  and  the  bars  hang  on  the  end  of  the  pole, 
hi  this  wav  the  bars  cannot  do  any  harm  if 
they  happen  to  knock  against  anything.  For  an 
acute  angle  to  the  left,  you  also  have  seven  orders 
to  cr'ive — ist,  take  back  the  leaders  ten  inches; 
2d,  push  up  or  take  in  the  off  wheeler  two 
inches;  3d,  make  two  points  to  the  left  quickly; 
4th,  lay  hold  of  the  two  left  reins  and  drop  your 
left  hand  ;  ^th,  let  the  two  points  run  out  ;  bth, 
draw  out  the  two  inches  of  opposition  ;  7th,  draw 
out  the  leaders'  reins  ten  inches,  tlrst  the  near 
and  then  the  off. 


TO   DRIVE   INTO   A    DOORWAY   OR   GATEWAY 
Turning  to  the  Right 

To  turn    into  a  gateway  on   your   right   side, 
the    wider    the    street    is    the     more     room    you 
should   take  on  vour   left,  as   for   an    acute   angle. 
Make   the   turn    and    keep   well   in   the   middle   of 
the  gateway,  for  the  posts  will  not  give  way. 


I  1 8  DRIVING    LESSONS 

About  fifteen  yards  from  the  gateway  put 
the  near  wheeler's  rein  over  the  thumb,  and  hold 
it  enough  to  bring  the  coach  to  the  left  side. 
Take  all  the  room  you  can;  then  if  you  have  to 
make  room  for  another  carriage  which  happens 
to  pass  unawares,  you  have  some  to  give,  but  if 
you  have  no  room  and  are  held,  you  are  not 
able  to  take  the  gate  ;  in  this  case,  stop  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  back  about  three  yards  more 
than  you  think  necessary  (for  one  never  backs 
enough).  As  you  start  forward,  have  your  right 
hand  on  the  right  leader,  so  as  to  point  just  as 
the  leaders'  heads  are  one  yard  before  you  get  to 
the  angle  of  the  pillar  of  the  gate;  then  take 
hold  of  the  two  right  reins  with  the  right  hand, 
and  facilitate  the  turn  by  dropping  your  left.  If 
all  is  well  and  coming  f^iirly,  give  up  all  com- 
mands quickly,  and  as  the  horses  become  straight 
you  help  with  the  right  hand  to  keep  in  the 
middle.  All  this  is  quick  work,  especially  if 
done  trotting ;  always  be  ready  to  put  on  the 
dead-stop,    if  it   is   wanted,    in   half  a   second. 


Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  right,   Rue  du  Sabot  (see  page  140). 


THE  LESSON  I  1 9 

TO  DRIVE  THROUGH  A  GATEWAY 
Turning  to  the  Left 
For  a  left-hand  gate — of  course  you  are  sup- 
posed to  always  be  driving  your  horses  ship- 
shape before  any  ordering  comes — bring  back 
your  leaders,  as  always  ordered  before  turning ; 
slide  up,  or  shorten,  your  off  wheeler's  rein  two 
inches ;  mind  and  keep  to  all  these  measure- 
ments, as  nearly  as  possible,  all  through  the 
lessons,  unless  you  know  that  one  horse  wants 
more  than  a  fair  asking — then  do  what  vou 
think  right.  When  the  leaders'  heads  are  within 
one  yard  of  the  post  of  the  gate,  point  your 
left  leader  eight  inches,  and  help  the  lot  to  turn, 
if  necessary.  Once  the  leaders  are  in  the  door- 
way, give  up  all  your  orders,  and  with  the  right 
hand  lay  hold  of  the  two  rights  or  lefts,  as  may 
be  necessary,  so  as  not  to  rub  the  curbstones; 
or  at  all  events  not  to  come  into  violent  contact 
with  them,  as  some  people  do. 

STOPPING   BESIDE   A    CURBSTONE 
If  you   are  asked  to  stop  on  your  right  side 


120  DRIVING    LESSONS 

beside  a  curbstone,  and  you  take  hold  with  your 
full  hand,  you  would  bring  your  leader  on  to 
the  curbstone,  which  is  dangerous ;  or  if  you 
stop  asking  them  too  soon,  the  coach  will  be 
about  one  yard  from  the  curbstone.  Fearing  to 
take  your  horse  there  you  leave  the  coach  across 
the  street.  To  do  this  well,  put  the  middle 
finger  of  the  right  hand  between  the  two  off 
reins,  with  all  the  fingers  open,  press  the  index 
against  the  middle  finger ;  to  tighten  the  off 
leader's  rein,  bring  it  to  you  about  two  inches, 
sliding  on  the  wheeler's  rein,  then  clasp  your 
hand  and  advance,  or  drop,  your  left  as  much 
as  is  necessary,  and  just  as  the  leader  is  getting 
to  the  curbstone,  let  slip  the  two-inch  point — 
forward  points  must  never  fall  down  behind  the 
hand  ;  this  allows  the  leader  to  be  parallel  with 
the  curbstone  without  fear  of  his  getting  on  it. 
When  the  team  has  gone  on  about  four  or 
five  yards,  leave  go  your  right  and  put  on  the 
dead-stop  gradually,  so  as  not  to  put  the  horses 
on   their  hocks. 


THE    LESSON  121 

If  voLi  have  to  put  a  bit  of  pressure  on  the 
reins  left  or  right,  do  it  with  the  right  hand  and 
ease  the  left.  Put  on  the  brake,  and  let  the  people 
who  are  accompanying  you  get  up  or  down. 

When  you  wish  to  draw  up  to  the  left-hand 
curbstone,  being  on  the  right  side  of  the  street 
(as  that  is  the  side  in  France),  and  you  have  but 
little  space,  put  the  near  wheeler's  rein  around 
the  thumb,  if  there  is  plenty  of  room,  lay  hold 
of  the  two  left  side  reins,  and  as  for  the  off  side, 
draw  the  leader  first,  about  two  inches,  before 
the  action  comes  on  the  wheelers.  This  is  the 
way  to  get  there.  Press  with  the  index  finger 
the  rein  that  is  on  the  middle  finger,  clasp  the 
two  reins,  first  sliding  the  hand  on  the  wheeler's 
rein  two  inches.  Then  bring  your  hand  toward 
your  body,  placing  it  above  the  left  hand,  and 
when  the  near  leader  reaches  the  curbstone  let 
the  two- inch  point  run  out.  Keep  going  until 
the  coach  is  parallel  with  the  curbstone.  Give 
the  commands,  and  put  on  the  dead-stop  with  a 
bit  of  pressure  to  the  left. 


122  DRIVING   LESSONS 

HOW  TO    BACK    ROUND   IN    NARROW   SPACES, 

OR     GET    YOURSELF     IN    RANK     IN 

CLOSE     QUARTERS 

If  voLi  are  in  a  street  without  an  outlet,  and 
inave  not  room  enough  to  turn  around,  say  about 
twelve  yards,  you  must  get  out  of  it  by  backing 
around,  starting  from  the  right-hand  curbstone. 

You  want  about  seven  yards  across  from 
curb  to  curb,  although  more  is  better.  Before 
beginning  this  movement,  be  driving  all  your 
horses  with  hanging  bars,  but  not  so  far  back  as 
to  touch  the  hocks.  Ask  your  horses  to  move 
on,  point  them  to  the  left  (the  point  can  also  be 
done  before  you  ask  them  to  move  on),  and 
with  the  right  hand  lay  hold  of  the  near  wheeler's 
rein  and  help  him  strongly  to  the  left ;  all  these 
orders  must  be  quickly  done  ;  keep  going  as  f:ir 
as  you  can,  so  as  to  leave  a  good  three  yards 
behind  the  coach's  right-hand  wheel,  then  leave 
go  the  point  and  the  wheeler's  rein  together.  At 
this    moment    take    hold    of   the    two    right-hand 


THE    LESSON 


123 


reins  with  the  full  right  hand,  and  lower  or  drop 
your  left,  and  pull  vigorously  with  your  right,  at 
the  same  time  saying  "Whoa!"  loud  enough  for 
all  the  horses  to  hear.  This  leaves  the  coach 
across  the  street  at  a  standstill  (see  position  A), 


POSITION    A 

the  bed  of  the  coach  alone  turned  to  the  right. 

If  you  think  the  reins  are  a  bit  long,  or  your 
horses  are  hard  to  back,  take  the  lot  up  before 
asking  them  to  back  ;  put  your  right  hand  as  for 
the  dead-stop,  then  slide  your  hand  one  or  two 
inches  toward  you  on  the  left  reins,  not  forgetting 


124 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


to  keep  the  two  little  fingers  fast  on  the  two  right 
reins.  This  keeps  a  stronger  hold  on  the  right 
side  while  backing.  Always  be  ready  to  leave  go 
of  either  rein  should  a  horse  want  to  rear,  and  do 
not  pull  so   hard  that  they  do  so   and   fall  back- 


W 


W 


POSITION    B 


wards.  Always  ask  your  backing  very  gradually 
and  without  interruption,  if  possible,  until  you 
see  the  footboard  straight  across  the  street,  and, 
if  anything,  a  bit  inclined  to  the  left  as  you 
stop  (see  position  B).  All  these  orders  must 
be   executed   quickly,    but   without  jerking. 


THE    LESSON  12  = 

Notice:  If  you  wish  to  stop  in  rank  just 
before  you  have  backed  enough  to  turn  around, 
you  let  everything  go  quickly  and  take  hold  of 
the  two  left-hand  reins  and  finish  your  backing; 
this  will  bring  the  coach  and  horses  in  one 
straight  line  with  both  hind  wheels  in  the  gutter 
of  the  sidewalk.  Of  course  the  opposite  is  done 
when   you   leave   the  curbstone   at   the   start.   - 

When  you  are  at  this  point  let  go  all  in 
your  right  hand  and  point  gently  to  the  left, 
not  pulling  hastily  on  the  rein  as  it  would  cause 
the  horses  to  back,  but  gently  giving  little  tugs 
or  jerks,  which  makes  them  turn  in  pivoting  on 
their  hind  legs.  They  turn  in  a  large  circle  to 
the  left,  you  aid  them  by  taking  hold  of  the  two 
left-hand  reins  with  the  right  hand  if  help  is 
wanted,  and  drop  your  left  hand;  give  your  gen- 
eral call,  or  click,  and  the  horses  start  off  to  the 
left — lowering  both  hands  if  you  have  anything 
in  your  right;  if  not,  put  your  left  hand  well  for- 
ward so  that  the  horses  can  go  into  their  collars 
(see  position    C).      You   must   often   put  the   left 


126 


DRIVING    LESSONS 


hand  well  forward  so  as  not  to  stop  the  horses, 
particularly  if  you  shortened  your  reins  to  back; 
so  it  is  best  not  to  shorten  the  reins  to  back,  or, 
if  you  do  so,  to  let  them  out  before  starting,  but 
that  is  not  easy  to  do  just  then. 


r~ J" — Jv 


POSITION    C 


If  you  are  to  go  back  to  your  starting-point, 
put  the  left  wheeler's  rein  over  the  thumb  and  your 
right  hand  on  the  two  left  reins,  the  middle  tlnger 
separating  them;  hold  them  well,  and  get  as  near 
to  the  curbstone  as  you  possibly  can.  Give  every 
order  gently,  and  put  on  the  dead-stop. 


THE    LESSON 


127 


Let  us  now  explain  the  movements  to  back 
to  the  left. 

To  back  around  to  the  left  leaving  the  left 
curbstone,  begin  by  bringing  your  leaders  back 
eight  inches,  in   order   to  have   the   bars   hanging 


POSITION    D 


without  touching  the  hocks,  point  to  the  right, 
and  give  your  usual  call  for  the  horses  to  move 
on  ;  help  your  wheelers  to  the  right,  keep  going 
as  far  as  you  can,  but  leave  at  least  three  yards 
from  the  curbstone  to  your  left  hind  wheel,  let 
go   the   point   and    the   wheeler's    rein,    take   hold 


128 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


quickly  of  the  two  left-hand  reins  with  your 
right  hand,  vigorously  pulling  them  to  you,  and 
calling  "Whoa!"  loud  enough  to  obtain  a  full 
stop  ;  of  course  you  drop  the  left  hand  so  that 
it  enables  the  lot  to  come  to  the  left.     Just  then 


-.\ 


POSITION    E 

the  coach  is,  or  ought  to  be,  crossways  in  the 
street,  the  horses  and  front  bed  only  being  turned 
to  the  left  (see  position  D).  You  place  your 
right  hand  on  the  left-hand  reins,  the  middle 
finger  separating  them,  and  drawing  your  hands 
to   you,    you    obtain    the    backing ;    keep    on   till 


Turning  un  acute  angle  to  the  lett,   Rue  du  Sabot  (see  page   117). 


THE   LESSON  1 29 

your  footboard  is  quite  across  the  street,  or, 
preferably,  ;i  little  inclined  to  the  right  (see 
position  E).  At  this  moment  you  stop  (or  just 
before  then  you  lay  hold  of  the  two  right  reins 
strongly  and  drop  the  left,  which  pulls  you 
straight  if  you  wish  to  stop  in  rank).  You  point 
to  the  right,  tugging  lightly  or  jerking,  and  as 
soon  as  you  see  they  are  coming  around  you 
help  them  all  by  putting  your  right  hand  on  the 
two  right  reins  and  bringing  it  to  vou.  You 
then  drop,  or  give,  both  hands  as  the  turn  is 
finishing,  to  allow  your  horses  to  go  into  their 
collars  and  draw  the  coach  awav.  Remember, 
that  when  you  turn  to  the  left  the  horses  go 
away  from  you,  that  is  why  vou  have  to  advance 
the  hand  so  much  ;  to  the  right,  on  the  con- 
trary, they  come  to  you,  therefore,  you  have  to 
raise   your   hands. 

When  you  have  finished  backing,  should  the 
footboard  not  be  true  across  the  street  (see 
position  F),  and  your  quarters  rather  close, 
you   must   start  them   straight,   reset  your   horses 


no 


DRIVING   LESSONS 


and   front   bed,    and   back    again    until    you    gain 
what   room   you   need. 

HOW   TO    PASS   A   CARRIAGE    IN    FRANCE 

(in     AMERICA     IT     IS     CUSTOMARY     TO     DRIVE     ON     THE     OFF     SIDE) 

When    you  have  to  pass  a  carriage,  or   any- 


■  V 


POSITION    F 

thing  else  in  your  way,  take  hold  of  the  two 
left  reins  as  said,  middle  fingers  between,  lower 
the  left  hand  and  draw  the  right  to  you  towards 
the  right  side,  to  get  the  maximum  of  power.  If 
the  street  is  barred  on  the  right  side,  and  there 
is  only  just  room  to  get  through  on  the  left  side, 


THE   LESSON  I3I 

put  the  left  wheeler's  rein  over  your  thumb  or 
wrist,  as  I  have  explained  before,  then  take  hold 
of  the  two  lefts  with  vour  right  hand,  always 
easing   with   the   left   hand. 

When  vou  have  obeyed  all  these  orders  on 
the  left,  to  avoid  an  obstacle  on  the  right,  and 
the  horses  refuse  to  obey,  a  sharp  cut  of  the 
whip  on  the  off  wheeler's  shoulder  will  carry 
your  team  immediatelv  to  the  left.  For  the  oppo- 
site case,  a  sharp  stroke  on  the  left  wheeler  will 
carry   your   team    to   the    right. 

Never  forget  your  whip,  particularly  when 
you  are  passing  by  places  where  horses  might 
become  frightened  ;  a  stroke  of  the  whip,  given 
at  the  right  time,  may  prevent  horses  from  shying, 
as  it  changes  their  minds.  You  must  see  if  any- 
thing is  likely  to  make  them  shy,  but  do  not 
strike  after  they  have  done  so  ;  try  to  avoid 
having  them  see  what  does  not  suit  them. 
Never  strike   with   a   rein    in   your   right   hand. 

Have  your  whip  unfurled  when  you  want 
to   spring   a   hill,  but  keep  the  lash,  or   point,   in 


I  32  DRIVING    LESSONS 

your  hand;  draw  out  eight  inches  of  rein  for 
your  near  leader  with  the  thumb  and  forefinger 
of  your  right  hand.  While  giving  that  rein,  the 
last  two  fingers  of  your  right  hand  can  clasp 
the  right  leader's  rein  and  draw  it  out  in  its 
turn.  It  is  easier  to  draw  one  rein  after  the 
other  than  both  at  once.  If  you  try  this  you 
can  prove  it.  It  is  better,  too,  because  the 
leaders  bear  generally  to  the  left  and  they  are 
put  straight  by  giving  the  near  rein  first,  without 
being  obliged  to  draw  so  much  out  for  the  off 
leader.  When  you  have  given  the  leaders  this 
head-room,  give  them  your  usual  call  and  gently 
drop  your  left  hand,  but  do  not  throw  your  hand 
forward,  to  start  them  into  a  gallop  or  a  canter. 
If  you  see  that  a  leader  is  not  ready,  give  him 
one  or  two  cuts  with  the  whip.  If  neither  are 
ready  to  start,  snap  your  whip  between  their 
ears  should  they  want  waking  up  ;  this  can  be 
done  without  letting  the  wheelers  hear.  Should 
a  wheeler  want  help  to  start  into  a  gallop,  and 
not   a   leader,    double   your   thong   and    give    him 


THE    LESSON  I}} 

one  or  two  cuts  ;  or,  if  you  have  hit  a  leader 
and  are  in  a  hurry  to  hit  a  wheeler,  bring  the 
end   of  the   long  thong  around    him. 

We  are  now  near  the  top  of  the  hill  ;  put 
the  middle  finger  of  the  right  hand  between  the 
leaders'  reins,  clasp  them  by  raising  them  a  little, 
and  take  them  out  of  your  left  hand  horizontally; 
bring  your  right  hand  to  you  behind  the  left  and 
put  the  reins  quickly  and  well  in  their  place 
in  the  left  hand  ;  then  the  dead-stop — but  only 
use  power  enough  to  bring  the  horses  down  to  a 
trot.  This  is  at  all  times  the  way  to  bring  the 
leaders  back.  People  are  wrong  to  pull  on  all 
the  horses  when  they  want  to  stop,  for  it  is 
often  the  leaders  who  are  pulling  on  the  end  of 
the  pole  that  will  not  obey  the  stop,  for  all  the 
power  used.  To  obtain  the  stop  without  great 
effort,  it  is  sufficient  to  bring  the  leaders  back  first, 
and  the  stop  produces  itself  without  difficulty. 

Never  make  a  noise  with  your  whip  if  you 
can  help  it,  for  it  excites  the  horses  that  are  not 
struck.      Always   have  your  horses  well  in  hand 


134  DRIVING    LESSONS 


before  striking ;  it  prevents  you  having  to  pull  them 
with  a  deal  of  power  after  the  stroke.  Alwavs 
be  prudent  and  keep  vour  team  straight  in  front 
of  you.  For  this  there  are  several  ways.  The 
two  reins  which  want  the  most  fitting  are  those 
of  the  off  leader  and  the  near  wheeler;  I  call 
them  the  two  centers,  being  together  between 
the  index  and  middle  fingers,  the  leader's  rein 
on  top  of  the  wheeler's.  They  always  run  out 
and  cause  the  leaders  to  be  to  the  left  and  the 
wheelers  to  the  right.  Pinch  with  the  thumb  of 
the  right  hand  on  top,  and  the  forefinger  under- 
neath, these  two  centres  at  about  one  inch  from 
the  left  hand;  ease  the  left  fingers  while  the  right 
hand  is  pushing  the  reins  back  into  the  left  hand; 
do  this  over  and  over  again  until  the  team  is 
straight,  but  if  you  take  more  than  one  inch  the 
leather  bends  and  the  work  is  not  done  properly. 
Another  way  is  to  take  hold  of  the  same  two 
reins  with  a  full  right  hand,  the  thumb  towards 
the  body  one  inch  only  from  the  left  hand,  and 
keep    on    pushing   them    in    until    the    horses    are 


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THE    LESSON  I35 

quite  straight.  If  the  horses  are  very  much  on 
one  side,  put  your  right  hand  under  the  left  and 
take  the  two  middle  reins  by  feeling  for  them 
about  four  inches  below  the  left  hand,  push  the 
off  wheeler  on  one  side  and  take  hold  of  the 
next  two  reins  and  draw  them  to  you  six  or 
eight  inches  or  more,  till  the  horses  are  straight. 
It  is  not  often  one  uses  this  last  way,  as  it  is  best 
not  to  let  the  horses  get  so  far  wrong. 

Suppose  the  leaders  are  bearing  to  the  right 
and  the  wheelers  to  the  left,  pick  up  your  near 
leader  quickly  at  eight  inches  from  your  left 
hand,  take  the  rein  out  of  your  left  and  put  it  in 
again  at  the  right  length  ;  do  the  same  for  the 
off  wheeler,  and  this  puts  the  team  in  a  straight 
line.  if  your  left  hand  is  tired,  take  the  four 
reins  between  the  middle  and  index  fingers  of 
the  right  hand,  close  up  behind  the  left,  and 
clasp  them  ;  then  open  your  left  without  taking 
the  reins  out,  and  keep  working  your  fingers  to 
relieve  them  if  they  are  cramped.  This  is  also 
the   way   to   shorten    or    lengthen    the   whole    lot 


136  DRIVING    LESSONS 

of  reins.  If  you  want  to  rest  the  left  hand  you  can 
do  so  by  putting  all  the  reins  in  vour  right  hand 
in  front  of  the  left,  the  right-hand  middle  finger 
between  the  two  left   reins,  as   for  the  dead-stop. 

If  you  want  your  left  hand  for  anything,  put 
all  the  reins  in  your  right  hand  placed  between 
the  same  fingers  as  in  the  left ;  keep  the  hand 
well  in  front  of  you,  or  even  rather  more  to  the 
left,  or  all  the  team  will  run  to  the  left.  To  have 
your  right  hand  at  liberty,  put  the  whip  high  up 
in  the  left  hand  under  the  thumb,  so  that  if  you 
have  to  deviate  to  come  to  the  right  you  can 
lower  your  left  beside  your  thigh  ;  in  this  way 
the  whip  handle  will  not  interfere  with  your 
motions  since  it  is  not  below  your  hand. 

When  you  arrive  at  your  destination,  unbuckle 
your  handpieces  and  throw  them  on  the  wheeler's 
backs  as  near  the  pads  as  you  can,  the  right-hand 
ones  to  the  right  and  the  left-hand  ones  to  the 
left.  They  should  be  thrown  with  the  arm,  and 
the  movement  should  not  be  followed  by  the  body; 
do   not   do   this  until  the  men  are  at  the  horses' 


THE   LESSON  1 37 


heads.  When  you  get  down  from  the  coach,  in- 
tending to  remount,  put  all  the  reins  in  your  right 
hand  as  you  did  when  you  mounted  at  first,  lay 
the  whip  across  the  wheelers'  backs  and  hang  the 
reins  as  they  were  before  taking  them  up :  that  is, 
either  the  buckle  ends  drawn  through  the  pad 
terrets,  or  fold  them  and  with  the  left  hand  pull 
away  the  hame  tug  and  pass  them  between  the 
pad  and  the  hame  tug  and  pad  strap. 

It  is  disagreeable  to  have  a  horse  that  is  always 
galloping;  if  you  have  three  horses  trotting  ten 
miles  an  hour  and  one  that  can  only  do  nine,  put 
them  all  at  the  hitter's  pace  and  all  will  go  well. 
Some  people  may  say  you  do  not  go  fast;  but 
your  horses  are  going  well,  and  you  know  the 
reason   why. 

I  will  mention  a  few  of  the  corners  well  known 
by  my  pupils,  such  as  those  of  the  Saint  Dominique 
Fountain,  the  Rue  du  Sabot,  the  Rue  des  Anglais, 
the  seven  corners  and  the  turn  of  the  Belle-Mere. 
These  places  are  not  made  to  amuse  one's  self 
with  all  day,  but  it  is  well   to    know    how  to  be 


138  DRIVING   LESSONS 

able  to  get  out  of  ditficulties  when  they  turn  up. 
Many  pupils  have  qualms  of  fright  when  they  see 
these  difficulties.  Keep  quiet,  sit  down  and  move 
only  your  arms.  Always  have  your  reins  well 
fitted  when  there  is  something  difficult  to  do,  and 
do  not  forget  the  whip,  nor  have  it  twisted  forty 
thousand  times  around  the  stick. 

TURNING    AROUND    THE    SAINT    DOMINiaUE 

FOUNTAIN 

Going  towards  the  Saint  Dominique  Fountain 
from  the  Pont  de  I'Alma,  we  turn  to  the  right  into 
the  Rue  Saint  Dominique  and  are  sixty  yards  from 
the  fountain.  These  are  the  rules  to  be  obeyed : 
Pick  up  the  leaders  eight  inches,  keep  all  the  team 
to  the  right  by  keeping  your  hand  down  towards 
your  left  thigh,  go  by  the  fountain ;  but  just  as  the 
leaders  get  at  the  level  of  the  gutter  (i)  point  the 
left  leader,  and  help  the  two  wheelers  if  necessary, 
drop  the  point,  and  keep  all  the  team  along  the 
curbstone  (2)  by  turning  the  left  hand  to  the  left 
toward  the  thigh.    When  the  leaders  get  to  angle  3, 


THE    LESSON 


139 


point  them  to  the  left,  and  with  the  right  wheeler's 
rein  keep  them  well  up  to  the  angle  (3).  Let  the 
point  go  and  keep  your  team  to  the  right;  when 
your  leaders'  heads  are  at  angle  (4)  point  your  left 


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leader,  and  with  the  off  wheeler's  rein  keep  on  op- 
position enough  to  clear  the  last  corner.  You  then 
come  into  the  Rue  Saint  Dominique,  turn  left  or  right 
or  go  around  again  if  it  suits  you,  having  a  little 
hand-cart  extra  somewhere  to  allow  you  less  room. 


I40  DRIVING   LESSONS 


TURNING  INTO  THE  RUE  DU   SABOT 
Going  toward  the  Rue   du  Four  by  the  Rue 

du  Dragon,  point  at  the  first  street  to  the  left, 
and,  if  necessary,  again  loose  the  point  at  fifty 
yards  from  this  point  to  the  left,  but  remember 
we  are  going  into  the  Rue  du  Sabot  and  have 
a  steep  descent  to  make.  See  at  once  if  in 
the  narrow  part  it  is  blocked,  so  as  not  to  get 
in  too  far;  for  you  could  not  get  out  again,  as 
the  street  is  only  as  wide  as  the  coach.  Keep 
going,  and  bring  your  leaders  back,  put  the  near 
wheeler's  rein  over  the  thumb  and  ask  two  points 
to  the  right.  When  it  is  time,  and  your  horses 
are  even  with  the  first  cross  gutter,  then  help 
them  all  around  at  the  last  moment.  Give  all  the 
orders  as  you  get  into  a  straight  line,  and  steady 
yourself  in  the  middle  of  the  street. 

I  have  often  been  obliged  to  back  out  of  this 
street  when  it  was  blocked. 

TURNING    INTO    THE    RUE    DES    ANGLAIS    FROM 
THE    RUE    DONAT 

Now  let   us   go   to   the    Rue   des   Anglais,  an 


Turning?  out  of  the  Rue  des  Ano-lais  into  the  Rue  Donat  (see  page  141). 


THE   LESSON  I4I 

Ugly  little  street  that  finishes  the  Boulevard  Saint- 
Germain;  it  is  better  to  go  along  the  Rue  Donat, 
your  leaders  well  back  in  hand,  with  two  inches 
of  opposition  on  your  right  wheeler,  your  hand 
well  in  its  place;  this  keeps  your  coach  bearing 
to  the  right.  At  the  level  of  the  corner  point 
your  near  leader,  and  then  help  all  to  turn  to  the 
left;  as  your  right  opposition  held  your  wheelers 
to  the  right,  so  must  you  also  help  them  at  the 
last  moment  to  come  to  the  left,  give  all  orders, 
and  the  turn  is  finished.  It  is  the  sharpest  angle 
I  know  of.  Keep  straight  on  to  come  out  of  the 
street,  and  turn  to  the  left. 

Always  be  ready  to  stop  when  turning  into 
such  streets,  for  vou  can  only  see  what  is  in  the 
next  street  after  the  four  horses  are  fairly  in  it. 

TURNING  THE   CORNER   OF  THE  BELLE-MERE 

The  corner  of  the  Belle-Mere  is  near  the  Arc- 
de-Triomphe,  so  we  go  along  the  Avenue  Mac- 
Mahon,  cross  the  Rue  Tilsitt  and  keep  going 
down   the   hill;    put   the   brake   on    and    the    first 


142  DRIVING    LESSONS 

Street  to  the  left  is  an  acute  angle  with  steep 
hills  both  ways.  This  is  the  Rue  Montenotte ; 
the  entrance  is  seven  yards  wide,  and  the  right- 
side  curbstone  is  one  yard  lower  than  the  left. 

This  is  where  you  are  apt  to  turn  over  if  you 
come  too  quickly.  Take  off  the  brake  and  give 
your  leaders  some  rein  to  climb  the  hill,  then  imme- 
diately take  them  up  again  to  be  able  to  turn  in 
the  Rue  de  I'Arc-de-Triomphe,  and  put  the  oppo- 
sition, or  left  wheeler's,  rein  over  your  thumb  and 
make  two  points  to  the  right ;  put  the  brake  on 
again,  for  the  hill  is  a  stiff  one,  let  the  points  go 
as  also  the  opposition,  and  keep  hold  of  the  four 
reins  to  steady  the  horses. 

It  is  this  corner  that  makes  the  costermongers 
so  frightened.  They  do  not  know  where  to  go 
when  they  see  the  team  coming  around  it.  Keep 
going  and  we  will  have  a  canter  up  Avenue 
Carnot;  take  the  first  of  two  left-hand  streets,  give 
your  leaders  some  rein  and  ask  them  to  canter; 
near  the  top  of  the  hill  bring  back  your  leaders 
and   put   on   the   dead-stop  to    steady  the   coach, 


THE   LESSON  1 43 

having  now  to  cross  the  railroad.  Then  we  go 
towards  the  Avenue  du  Bois,  to  turn  the  seven 
successive  corners. 

TURNING  THE   SEVEN   CORNERS 

Take  the  second  street  on  your  right  in  the 
Avenue,  then  the  first  to  the  right,  this  being  the 
first  of  the  seven  turns;  first  to  the  left  (second 
turn),  again,  first  to  the  left  (third  turn),  then  at 
once  put  the  rein  over  the  thumb  to  keep  to  the 
left,  then  point  to  the  right  when  the  leaders' 
forefeet  are  in  the  gutter,  put  on  the  brake,  let 
go  the  point  and  then  the  opposition,  help  to 
keep  them  straight  to  steady  the  coach  on  the 
descent  which  you  have  now  reached  (fourth 
turn).  Then  a  left  turn;  take  off  the  brake,  and 
keep  all  to  the  right;  point  your  left  leader;  give 
rein  enough  for  the  hill  (fifth  turn),  and  have  all 
your  orders  ready  for  an  acute  angle  to  the  right 
(sixth  turn);  continue  straight  on,  pay  attention 
to  the  decline;  then  comes  an  acute  angle  to  the 
left,    leaving    macadam    to    turn     on     to     asphalt 


144  DRIVING   LESSONS 

(seventh  corner).  Always  be  careful  when  you 
change  your  paving,  for  a  horse  is  surprised  at  the 
change  and  easily  slips  up,  particularly  in  turning 
an  acute  angle. 

I  am  often  asked,  "Why  does  that  horse 
canter?"  It  is  often  because  he  is  too  willing  to 
travel;  he  puts  out  all  his  courage.  It  should  be 
the  care  of  the  one  who  is  driving  to  see  that 
such  a  horse  does  not  work  too  hard. 

When  you  are  driving  four  horses,  all  the 
horses  ought  to  work  equally,  especially  when 
going  up  hill.  Remember  this  and  you  will  find 
yourself  the   better  for  it  some  day. 

If  the  coachman  drives  his  horses  carefully  he 
will  make  the  lazy  ones  do  their  share  of  the  work; 
then  the  good  horse  will  never  think  of  doing 
more  than  his  share,  and  will  keep  trotting. 

I  remember,  some  time  ago,  an  amateur  going 
to  a  race-meeting  on  a  coach  full  of  friends, 
thinking  more  of  the  conversation  than  of  driving 
his  horses.  Nevertheless,  the  coach  kept  going 
and  that  satisfied  him.     On  getting  to  the  hill   of 


THE   LESSON  1 45 

Marly-le-Roi.  and  feeling  the  pace  die  off,  he 
called  to  his  horses  to  excite  them,  still  keeping 
up  his  conversation.  Thanks  to  his  repeated  calls 
they  kept  on  going  till  they  reached  the  top  of 
the  hill;  unluckily,  only  one  horse  obeyed  the 
master's  calls,  and  he  alone  drew  the  coach  to  the 
top  of  the  hill.  The  horse's  power  of  endurance 
having  a  limit,  the  poor  beast  fell  dead  as  he  got 
there ;  the  driver,  undoubtedly,  never  thinking 
that  he  had  killed  his  brave  worker.  He  was 
obliged  to  keep  on  with  his  party  with  only 
three  horses. 

If  you  go  by  the  Avenue  Fitz-James  at  Marly- 
le-Roi,  a  bit  further  than  the  horse-pond  and 
opposite  a  fountain,  you  can  say:  "That  is  where 
the  good  old  horse  died,"  as  in  the  English  hunting 
song. 

Always  think  of  what  you  are  doing,  as  well 
at  play  as  at  work:  it  is  but  your  duty. 

Let  me  be  allowed,  before  finishing,  to  relate 
an  interesting  story  or  two: 

Some   gentlemen    protested   that   I    could    not 


146  DRIVING    LESSONS 

furnish  a  coach,  with  one  change  of  horses,  to  go 
from  Paris  to  Chantilly  in  three  hours;  the  bet 
was  easily  won. 

The  coach  reached  the  Octori  in  two  hours 
and  twenty-one  minutes,  and  the  Hotel  d'Angle- 
terre  in  two  hours  and  twenty-four  minutes,  the 
pace  being  eleven  and  one-quarter  miles  an  hour. 
One  of  the  gentlemen  asked  me,  before  starting, 
if  there  was  any  chance  of  my  winning  ;  I  an- 
swered, "That  it  was  won  ;  for  if  we  only  went 
ten  miles  an  hour  we  could  do  it." 

1  was  running  on  the  road,  one  day,  with  a 
well-known  prince,  and,  for  several  consecutive 
runs  of  two-and-a-quarter  miles  we  arrived  at  the 
milestones  in  exactly  fifteen  minutes  by  the  foot- 
board watch  ;  this  on  a  thirty-seven  mile  journey. 
The  prince  could  not  understand  how  one  could 
drive  at  such  a  regular  pace. 

Many  persons  think  that  they  have  only  to 
drive  a  road  coach  to  be  good  coachmen.  These 
people  are  mistaken.  In  France  you  need  a 
certain  amount   of  skill  to  avoid  the  carters  who, 


THK    LESSON  1 47 

when  they  hear  the  horn,  seem  to  get  purposely 
in  the  way.  \n  England,  on  the  contrary,  the 
coachmen  are  helped  when  coming  into  London 
by  everyone  clearing  the  way  when  he  hears 
the  coach  coming. 

1  like  to  run  on  the  road  :  I  have  done  a 
good  deal  of  it  and  would  like  to  do  more  ;  but 
to  learn  to  drive,  one  hour's  lesson  in  the  town 
is  worth  more  than  fiftv  miles  of  road,  for  often 
when  on  the  road  one  does  not  drive  but  lets 
the  horses  run  on. 

The  road  is  very  agreeable  with  its  greetings 
and  salutes.  Driving  is  a  sport  that  gives  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure  to  those  who  can  say,  "I  have 
driven  my  horses." 


FINIS 


CONTENTS 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


Page 

Dedication 5 

To   my    l^upils 7 

Preface,    by    the    Count    de    Clermont-Gal- 

lerande 9 

Preliminary  Advice 

The  Four-Horse  Whip  and  the  way  to  use 

it    ............     .  33 

The  Reins 46 


1^2  DRIVING    LESSONS 

Page 

The  Lamps 59 

The  Brake 6i 

The  Skid 64 

The  Bridle 6s 

The  Head  Terrets ,     .     ,  67 

The  Noseband 68 

The  Traces 70 

The  Pole  Chains      .     .     , 71 

The  Cruppers 72 

The  Collar .     o     .  73 

The  Pole 74 

The  Bars 76 

The  Martingale  and  Hame  Straps  ....  77 

The  Horn •  19 

The.  "Guard's  Bag"    ..,,...     .  81 

The  Basket 82 


TABLE   OF    CONTENTS  I55 

Page 

The  Drivincf-Cushion 83 

The  Driving-Box 84 


The  Lesson 

How  to  take  the  reins,  and  get  on  the  box  91 

The  start 99 

The  point 102 

The  stop 104 

Turning  a  right  angle  to  the  right     .     .     .  106 

Turning  a  right  angle  to  the  left  ....  1 1 1 

Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  right  ...  112 

Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  left      .     .     .  117 

Driving  through  a  gateway  to  the  right      .  117 

Driving  through  a  gateway  to  the  left   .     .  119 

Stopping  beside  a  curbstone i  lO 


I  34  DRIVING    LESSONS 

Page 

How  to  back 122 

How  to  pass  a  carriage 130 

Turning    round    the    Fontaine    Saint-Domi- 
nique    138 

Turning  into  the  Rue  du  Sabot     ....  140 

Turning  into  the  Rue  des  Anglais      ...  140 

Turning  the  Belle-Mere  corner 141 

Turning  the  seven  corners 143 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Opposite 
page 

E.  Hewlett  and  family Title 

Coach  on  a  straight  line  just  as  the  driver 
takes  up  his  leaders  before  making  a 
turn II 

Coach  team  ready  for  lesson 21 

Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  right  ...         27 

Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  left     ...         33 


1^8  DRIVING   LESSONS 


Opposite 
page 

Turning    a    back   comer   or  acute   angle  to 

the  right  at  the  Trocadero 39 

Turning   a   back   corner  or  acute  left  angle 

at  the  Trocadero 49 

Backing  round,  position  A 55 

Backing  round  on  the  right,  position  B  .     .  67 

Turning  at  the  Fontaine  Saint-Dominique  .  73 

Third  turning  at  the  Fontaine   Saint-Domi- 
nique    83 

Coach  ready  to  be  put  to 91 

Turning   an    acute   angle    to  the   right   into 

the  gateway  of  the  Rue  de  I'Exposition  95 

Backing  round  the  Fontaine  Saint-Dominique  99 

Coach  coming  through  the  Rue  du  Sabot  .  107 

Turning  an    acute   angle  to   the  right,   Rue 

du  Sabot 119 


ILLUSTRATIONS  I S9 

Opposite 
page 

Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  left.   Rue  du 

Sabot I2Q 

Turning  into  the  Rue  des  Anglais  from  the 

Rue  Donat 135 

Turning  from  the  Rue  des  Anglais  into  the 

Rue  Donat 141 

Turning  an  acute  angle  to  the  right  in  the 

Bois    de    Boulogne 145 


-'T-r'J^^'^ 


Tufts  University 

School  of  yetetmaff  M^a 

200Wstboffo  M.. 


^Jt, 


W^- 


